Xiumin reportedly linked to Cha Ga Won’s luxury villa controversy amid unpaid settlement dispute

It has been confirmed that idol singer Xiumin of EXO-CBX purchased a unit in the second phase of the ultra-luxury villa complex Le Nouveau Hannam, developed by Cha Ga Won, chairman of Piark Group and One Hundred Label. As controversy continues to grow over alleged conflicts between Cha and artists under his agency, attention is now turning to the fact that Xiumin completed the property registration earlier this year.

According to Supreme Court property registry records, Xiumin purchased a second-floor unit measuring 166.42㎡ in “Le Nouveau Hannam Phase 2,” located in Hannam-dong, Yongsan District, Seoul, in April 2023. The official registration was reportedly completed in early January this year, nearly three years after the sales contract was signed. While the exact transaction amount has not been disclosed, industry insiders estimate the property to be worth around 10 billion KRW (approximately 7.3 million USD).

“Le Nouveau Hannam Phase 2” is a high-end residential development built under the name of Cha Ga Won’s affiliated company One S. The complex consists of seven households across three basement floors and three above-ground floors, with residents moving in during 2024. Although prices varied by unit, each home was reportedly priced at around 10 billion KRW. Psychiatrist and television personality Yang Jae Woong is also said to have purchased a unit in the complex in 2021.

Xiumin reportedly purchased the property shortly before transferring from SM Entertainment to INB100, a label under Cha Ga Won’s One Hundred Label. In June 2023, Xiumin, along with fellow EXO members Baekhyun and Chen, notified SM Entertainment of the termination of their exclusive contracts. The trio later re-debuted under the name EXO-CBX through INB100, while agreeing to pay SM Entertainment 10% of revenue generated from individual activities.

However, controversy has emerged over allegations that Cha Ga Won used artists under his entertainment agencies during the sale and operation of “Le Nouveau Hannam.”

The first phase of the complex, consisting of four units, was completed in 2022 but reportedly remains entirely unsold four years later. Cha allegedly brought in long-term lease tenants instead. Singer and actor Lee Seung Gi, who is signed under subsidiary Big Planet Made Entertainment, signed a jeonse lease in 2024 with a deposit of 10.5 billion KRW (approx. 6.7 million USD), while EXO member Baekhyun reportedly signed a lease in 2025 with a deposit of 16 billion KRW (approx. 10.26 million USD). It was also alleged that Cha personally arranged large-scale bank loans for both artists to help finance the deposits.

Recently, Lee Seung Gi publicly claimed that Cha encouraged him to move into “Le Nouveau Hannam,” stating, “She delayed the appraisal process and never gave me an exact lease amount. After I moved in, she demanded a jeonse deposit of 10.5 billion KRW, which was more than three times the amount I had originally been told.” He added, “When I said I didn’t have that kind of money, Cha told me she had already arranged all the loans and promised to cover the interest until the end, but she has failed to pay even the promised loan interest.”

Within the entertainment industry, there is speculation that Cha Ga Won may have recommended “Le Nouveau Hannam Phase 2” to Xiumin due to concerns over unsold units.

Cha is currently facing financial difficulties and has reportedly failed to pay settlement earnings to artists under her agency. Baekhyun, Chen, and Xiumin of EXO-CBX revealed that they sent a formal notice of contract termination to Cha in April this year. Xiumin, who allegedly did not receive his settlement payments, has also reportedly failed to pay the agreed-upon 10% revenue share owed to SM Entertainment. As a result, SM Entertainment has placed a provisional seizure worth KRW 700 million on Xiumin’s “Le Nouveau Hannam Phase 2” property.

Through media statements, Cha Ga Won said, “We are currently working to normalize the company,” adding, “I will resolve the situation by securing additional investment or even using my personal assets if necessary.”