Police Seek Arrest Warrant for ONE HUNDRED CEO Cha Ga-won Over Alleged Fraud Tied to Entertainer IP

South Korean police have applied for an arrest warrant for Cha Ga-won, CEO of the entertainment agency ONE HUNDRED, according to a report carried by Yonhap on Wednesday. The request was filed under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes, and prosecutors are currently reviewing whether to issue the warrant.

The case centers on allegations involving the handling of intellectual property (IP) belonging to entertainers under Cha’s agency, including claims that a promised business opportunity was not carried out after large advance payments were taken.

Allegations: Advance of ₩24.2 billion and “double contracts”

According to the police request summarized by Koreaboo, the accusations stem from Cha’s alleged proposal of a business using the entertainers’ IP to a company called Knowmerce Corp. Police allege that Cha entered into a contract with Knowmerce, collected an advance payment of ₩24.2 billion KRW (about $15.9 million), and then failed to execute the business as promised.

Investigators further suspect that Cha allegedly concealed material facts from Knowmerce—specifically, that she had already signed a contract with another company whose agreement was not expected to be ending soon. Police describe this as effectively entering into double contracts, while also allegedly not being prepared to carry out the IP-based venture.

Police suspicions, in other words, are not limited to whether the venture happened, but also whether the process included deliberate misrepresentation regarding the feasibility and exclusivity of the deal.

Separate claim involving ₩5.40 billion in deposit money

The police request also includes a second set of allegations involving deposit money. Cha is accused of receiving ₩5.40 billion KRW (about $3.56 million) by agreeing with an acquaintance to sign lease contracts for each other’s homes. Police allege that after the deposit arrangements, Cha did not fulfill her side of the lease agreement.

While details of this alleged arrangement are comparatively limited in the public reporting, the inclusion of a separate property-related claim suggests investigators are examining a broader pattern of conduct that they say goes beyond a single business transaction.

Prosecutors review the arrest warrant request

Police applied for the arrest warrant through the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Financial Crime Investigation Unit, and the request is being reviewed by the prosecution. The specific legal framing referenced in the reporting—under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes—signals that investigators view the alleged conduct as potentially serious and economically motivated.

For the entertainment industry, these proceedings carry particular weight because disputes over IP ownership and licensing can quickly become high-stakes matters involving partners, investments, and contractual exclusivity. If investigators’ claims are upheld, the case could also raise questions about governance and transparency within agency-managed IP deals.

Cha’s side disputes the investigation and plans additional complaint

Cha’s legal position, as reported, is that she disputes the warrant request and argues that issues identified during an earlier search-and-seizure process support her broader concerns about how the investigation was conducted.

Her side is reported as saying that an arrest warrant has still been requested despite having confirmed “illegality” during the search and seizure process—an assertion she describes as connected to a motion for reconsideration. The statement also indicates that she plans to file a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission targeting the investigation team leader and investigators, alleging human rights violations during the investigation process.

That response suggests Cha’s defense strategy may pursue both legal challenges to the substance of the allegations and procedural challenges to investigative conduct.

What to watch next

In the near term, the key development is whether prosecutors approve the arrest warrant request. If approved, Cha would likely face a detention process while the investigation proceeds, and the case could move quickly into formal proceedings.

Beyond the warrant decision, observers will likely look for clarification on the exact contract terms with Knowmerce Corp., the timing and nature of the allegedly undisclosed second contract, and whether documentary evidence supports the claim of misrepresentation and intent.

For ONE HUNDRED and its artists, the outcome could also affect operational stability and any ongoing licensing or IP monetization relationships—particularly where partners require assurances about exclusivity, authority, and deliverability.