A K-Pop idol’s father is banned from leaving South Korea over a massive fraud scandal.
The man, dubbed Mr. A, faces accusations of scamming investors out of ₩292 billion KRW (about $212 million USD) over 17 months since September 2022. Authorities slapped a travel ban on him starting April 2024, extended monthly since.
Mr. A appealed the ban in court, claiming his son’s K-Pop fame means he’s not a flight risk. He also argued overseas business trips are vital for his company and that the ban harms operations.
On July 8, the Seoul Administrative Court dismissed his appeal. The court said criminal charges are serious, and Mr. A might flee the country. It rejected the idea that his son’s celebrity status reduces flight risk. The court also found no proof his business was damaged by not traveling abroad.
His identity, and that of the K-Pop idol son, remains undisclosed. OSEN contacted the idol’s agency but got no response.
Seoul Administrative Court:
"The criminal charges against Mr. A are major and that it was entirely possible for him to leave the country and stop responding to the summons."Seoul Administrative Court:
"The court also explicitly rejected the argument that Mr. A was not a flight risk simply because of his son’s celebrity status."
Mr. A’s case is now with prosecutors amid an ongoing investigation. The Ministry of Justice imposed the travel ban following police advice. The fraud probe is active as the situation develops.
