A man identified as Mr. A, the father of a popular K-pop idol, has been prohibited from leaving South Korea due to allegations of large-scale fraud amounting to nearly 290 billion KRW (approximately $210 million). His appeal to lift the travel restriction was rejected by the court, despite his claims that his son's celebrity status and business responsibilities made him unlikely to flee.
According to a July 8 report from LawTalk News, the Seoul Administrative Court dismissed Mr. A’s legal challenge, which aimed to overturn the Ministry of Justice's decision to extend his travel ban.
Mr. A is currently under investigation for allegedly defrauding investors of 291.9 billion KRW (about $210 million) over approximately 17 months starting in September 2022. He reportedly used a platform to promise high returns, drawing in a large number of victims. In April 2024, the Ministry of Justice issued a travel ban at the request of police, which has since been extended monthly.
In his court appeal, Mr. A stated that he had fully cooperated with authorities and had no intention of fleeing. He argued that his family resides in Korea, including his younger son who is a member of an idol group. He claimed this should serve as proof that he would not attempt to leave the country. He also said that international business travel was essential for his company and that the restriction could cause severe damage to its operations.
The court disagreed. It ruled that the allegations against him were serious and involved a large number of victims, making a long-term investigation inevitable. The court also noted that Mr. A had traveled abroad frequently before the travel ban, suggesting a risk that he might not respond to future summons.
His claim that his son's idol status would prevent him from fleeing was also dismissed. The court stated that the seriousness of the alleged crime and the possibility of a lengthy investigation meant that public interest, such as securing the criminal justice process and preventing the destruction of evidence, outweighed any personal inconvenience he might face.
The court also rejected his argument about business-related harm. It found no convincing evidence that international travel had to be conducted by Mr. A himself or that his inability to travel had resulted in concrete financial loss.
In connection with the case, OSEN reached out to the idol member’s agency for comment, but was unable to make contact with any representative.
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