Squid Game Star Under Investigation By Police
Officials with the Seoul Gangnam Police Department released a statement Sunday that confirmed that the agency was investigating allegations of fraud they assert was committed by Squid Game star Lee Jung Jae. The complaint also lists former WYSIWYG Studios CEO Park In Kyu, asserting that the two violated terms listed under South Korea’s Specific Economic Crimes Act. The investigation into Lee and Kyu stems from an official complaint filed by the CEO of RaemongRaein, a production company.
White Collar Crime
Kim Dong Rae, the filing party, maintains that he was intentionally misled by Lee and Kyu when the pair talked the executive into transferring his shares of the company over to them. Rather than experience a situation where Rae, Lee Jung Jae, and Kyu shared management responsibilities and financial growth, Rae states in the complaint that Lee and Kyu used the transfer of Rae’s shares to force the CEO out of his management role. Rae further asserts that the funds from the shares that he provided were used by Lee and Kyu to purchase production company Chorokbaem Media.
Fighting Back To Defend His Name
Lee Jung Jae isn’t taking the allegations from Rae lying down. The Squid Game actor filed a countersuit against Rae that accused the production company CEO of fraud and false statements. Lee’s legal representatives state that they have put forth the agreement between the actor, Kyu, and Rae, which shows that Rae’s transfer of rights as a manager was “explicitly stated.”
Seoul police are actively investigating the situation, making it almost certain that Lee Jung Jae and Kyu will be facing questioning from officials in the near future.
A Huge Star In South Korea
Lee Jung Jae is one of South Korea’s most celebrated entertainers. After a successful stint as a fashion model, he made the move to television and saw his star quickly rise from his role in the 1995 drama series Sandglass. In 1998, he broke into mainstream film in the movie An Affair. This highly acclaimed performance led to a successful film career across multiple genres and included roles in City of the Rising Sun (1999), Il Mare (2000), Last Present (2001), The Thieves (2012), and Operation Chromite (2016).
Lee Jung Jae became an international star after he was cast in the role of Seong Gi-hun in the Netflix drama Squid Game.
Squid Game Was A Worldwide Hit
After Squid Game’s debut in 2021 on the streaming service, the actor was nominated for a slew of awards that included the Critic’s Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series, Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Television Series Drama, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series, and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
The Games Return
Lee Jung Jae took home the Emmy, SAG Award, and Critic’s Choice Award in 2022, adding to his already lengthy list of acting awards won in his native South Korea.
The second season of the highly-rated Squid Game will co-star Lee Jung Jae. The much-anticipated sophomore season will debut on Thursday, December 26.
Sources: Daily Jang
