Bribery probe picking up steam

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Bribery probe picking up steam

The police investigation into bribery allegations surrounding the Korean music industry has picked up speed. The arrests of several television producers and writers and editors at sports newspapers have followed arrests of major talent agents who allegedly bribed members of the media for favorable coverage of their clients.

The Seoul District Prosecutors Office on Tuesday issued a detention warrant for Lee Sung-ho, a producer with Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation, who allegedly took some 68 million won ($57,000) from three different entertainment agencies.

An aide at the prosecutors office said, "Among the 20 people who were summoned, six to seven senior producers and journalists who received bribes of more than 20 million won will be arrested."

The prosecutors' office has arrested seven suspects, including television producers, reporters and entertainment agency representatives, since launching the investigation in early July.

Three representatives of entertainment agencies are also suspected of embezzlement. The prosecutors said Kim Gyeong-wook, 34, an agent with SM Entertainment, is suspected of embezzling 1.15 billion won from the agency. Lee Su-man, the largest shareholder in the same agency, will also be questioned on his suspected embezzlement as soon as he returns from the United States, prosecutors said. The prosecutors added that Park Nam-sung of Doremi Media is suspected of using 2.3 billion won of the firm's money for making personal stock and real estate purchases.

The prosecutors said they have also secured evidence of the involvement of organized crime in the entertainment business, including possibly managing some entertainment agencies.

The television producers and journalists who have either been arrested or are under investigation for allegedly taking bribes, are mostly senior writers or company executives. The prosecutors said it is becoming clear that the bribes they suspect the members of the media of taking for promoting singers were not just one-time events. Instead, the prosecutors said the reporters and producers maintained steady relationships with the management agencies.

by Jo Kang-su

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