WINNER’s Song Mino finds himself at the centre of a legal dispute involving a painting from his first solo exhibition.
How It All Began
Back in December 2022, Song Mino held his debut solo exhibition, where a buyer purchased a painting titled “I Thought.” The artwork, featuring a giraffe, was sold for 25 million won( Around 18000 USD). According to the agreement, the buyer expected to receive the painting by February 2023.
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However, the gallery postponed the delivery to April due to Mino’s overseas exhibition schedules. Later on, the buyer learned that the K-Pop star has been keeping the painting for prominent female artist.
As the story unfolded, Song Mino’s representatives claimed the gallery mishandled the sale, asserting that the transaction was made without his artist’s approval. The gallery acknowledged their error, blaming an inexperienced curator for the confusion.
A representative from the gallery explained “The curator mistakenly facilitated the sale without proper authorization. Additionally, Song Mino’s military enlistment made the transaction uncertain.”
Feeling betrayed, the buyer filed a lawsuit demanding the delivery of the painting. The first trial court ruled in favour of the buyer, ordering the painting to be handed over or a refund of 25 million won.
Despite this ruling, tensions escalated as the buyer sought additional compensation of 40 million won, citing legal fees and emotional distress. Unfortunately for the buyer, the second trial court dismissed this claim.
Currently, the buyer is considering an appeal. He said, “The gallery claimed the artwork wasn’t for sale, but they provided the price and payment details, which I acted upon. This entire situation feels contradictory.”
As the dispute continues, many are curious to see how this legal battle unfolds. For now, Song Mino remains at the centre of public scrutiny, with fans and industry professionals alike following the case closely.
