Entertainment bribery investigation widens

Home > National > Social Affairs

print dictionary print

Entertainment bribery investigation widens

The Seoul District Prosecutors Office reported Thursday that it is seeking a detention warrant for Kim Gyeong-uk, an executive of SM Entertainment, on a charge of embezzling 1.2 billion won (about $1 million) in December 1999.

The prosecutors reported Wednesday that they had obtained evidence that Lee Su-man, SM Entertainment's largest shareholder, colluded with Mr. Kim to embezzle the money from the company. Mr. Lee will be summoned for questioning as soon as he returns from an overseas trip, the prosecutors said.

The prosecutors office reported Thursday that a popular TV host allegedly intercepted and kept a bribe of 20 million won ($18,200) from a manager of an unknown singer intended to be delivered to a television producer. Prosecutors will summon the entertainer, identified only as Mr. Kim, for questioning.

Prosecutors are seeking a detention warrant for a woman identified only as Ms. Hwang on fraud charges. She allegedly lied to a manager of a singer about her connections to television producers and pocketed 50 million won when the manager asked her to get his client on TV.

Also on Thursday, the prosecutors summoned a broadcasting executive, identified only as Mr. Kim, who allegedly received tens of millions of won in exchange for publicizing a new album. Mr. Kim denied the charges saying, "I think the entertainment companies are trying to frame me as I refused their requests to help their clients appear on television."

by Jo Kang-su

Log in to Twitter or Facebook account to connect
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
help-image Social comment?
s
lock icon

To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.

Standards Board Policy (0/250자)