(From the top, clockwise) Kim Se-eui·Lee Seung-gi·JK Kim Dong-wook·Han Jung-soo·Cha Ga-won. Photos=Yonhap, Yonhap, Kyunghyang Shinmun DB, Yonhap, provided by Won Hundred.

From the transfer in custody to the prosecution of Kim Se-eui, head of the YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute, who is accused of defaming actor Kim Soo-hyun, to the truth dispute over a contract deposit between PIAQ Group Chairman Cha Ga-won and the side of singer Lee Seung-gi, and even political remarks related to the local elections by actor Han Jung-soo and singer JK Kim Dong-wook…. We have compiled the entertainment industry issues for the 4th.

■ ‘Defamation of Kim Soo-hyun’ Kim Se-eui, ultimately sent to the prosecution in custody

Kim Se-eui, head of the YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute, who is accused of defaming actor Kim Soo-hyun, has been handed over to the prosecution.

Seoul Gangnam Police Station on the 4th sent Kim Se-eui to the prosecution under arrest on charges including violation of the Sexual Violence Punishment Act, defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act, intimidation, and attempted coercion. Kim had alleged that Kim Soo-hyun had dated the late Kim Sae-ron since she was a minor and had released related audio recordings. Police have investigated on the view that the recordings were fabricated using AI and other tools.

Earlier, on the 26th of last month, the court issued a warrant for the arrest of Kim, and a request for review of the legality of detention filed by the side of Kim Se-eui was also dismissed.

Meanwhile, Kim denies the charges. On the 2nd, after the detention legality review, he met with reporters and argued for release, saying, “False information is being spread about me and the bereaved family of Kim Sae-ron.”

■ Cha Ga-won “did not recommend a jeonse lease” vs the side of Lee Seung-gi “it is all true”… a truth dispute

Cha Ga-won of Won Hundred Label, chairman of PIAQ Group, refuted claims about the jeonse deposit of Lee Seung-gi raised on the MBC program ‘PD Notebook,’ saying, “It is not true at all.”

In an interview with Ilgan Sports on the 4th, Chairman Cha, regarding the claim that he had continuously encouraged the couple of Lee Seung-gi to move into a luxury villa he built, said, “The property in question was an asset designated to be provided in kind as part of the contract deposit during the exclusive contract process,” and asserted, “I did not recommend a jeonse move-in.” He also denied as untrue the alleged scale of the jeonse deposit, support for loan interest, and issues over maintenance fees.

On the other hand, the legal representative for the side of Lee Seung-gi countered that “everything stated on PD Notebook is true” and that “all assertions from the side of Chairman Cha are false.” The representative added that a content-certified letter demanding the return of the jeonse deposit had been sent.

Previously, the MBC program ‘PD Notebook’ aired on the 2nd spotlighted a large jeonse loan structure surrounding a villa owned by the side of Chairman Cha. On the broadcast, the side of Lee Seung-gi claimed that Chairman Cha had encouraged them to move in, that the size of the jeonse deposit changed from the initial explanation, and that there was also an issue with the burden of loan interest. In addition, the side of Chairman Cha strongly refuted that the content of the broadcast differed from the facts, and the truth dispute between the two sides continues.

■ Han Jung-soo·JK Kim Dong-wook, political remarks after the local elections

Actor Han Jung-soo and singer JK Kim Dong-wook have successively expressed political views surrounding the June 3 local elections.

On the 4th, through his social media, Han Jung-soo criticized, “This election is one the Democratic Party lost,” and “They focused only on the party leadership race rather than the election.” He added, “The Democratic Party must reflect.”

On the same day, JK Kim Dong-wook criticized the National Election Commission, citing incidents in which some polling stations lacked ballot papers. He argued, “Reading the apology, I am dumbfounded,” and “I think the National Election Commission must accept a special counsel investigation.”

Meanwhile, both have been consistently sharing opinions on recent political and social issues. Han Jung-soo publicly criticized Shinsegae Group Chairman Jung Yong-jin over the controversy surrounding the Starbucks ‘5·18 Tank Day’ marketing, while JK Kim Dong-wook, on the same matter, said, “If I want to go, I go. Choice is freedom.”