Mr. A, father of a popular K-pop idol, faces serious legal trouble. The Seoul Administrative Court just denied his appeal to lift a travel ban due to allegations of fraud totaling nearly 290 billion KRW (approximately $210 million).
The controversy began when Mr. A was accused of defrauding investors over 17 months, starting September 2022. He supposedly promised high returns through a platform, luring in many victims. In April 2024, the Ministry of Justice imposed the travel ban at police request, and it has been extended monthly since.
In his court filing, Mr. A claimed he is fully cooperating and has no intention of fleeing. He argued his son, a member of an idol group, proves he won’t escape the country. He also insisted that international travel is critical for his business.
"International business travel was essential for my company," he said in his appeal. "The restriction could cause severe damage to its operations."
However, the court disagreed. They cited the seriousness of the allegations and the large number of victims involved as justifications for a continued travel ban.
They dismissed his claims about his son’s idol status, stating, “The seriousness of the alleged crime… outweighs any personal inconvenience he might face.”
The court also found no solid proof that his business depended on his travel.
In connection with the case, OSEN attempted to reach out to the idol member’s agency but received no response.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.
