ByPoem "Confirmed Non-Delivery of 1.5 Billion KRW" Apology
Husband Ji Sang-wook, Former National Assembly Member, Files Complaint
Actress Shim Eun-ha (51) has filed a complaint against a production company that claimed to have signed a contract with her and paid a contract fee, reporting this to the media.
On the 2nd, according to the police and industry sources, Shim Eun-ha's husband, former lawmaker Ji Sang-wook, submitted a complaint to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency against the production company By4M Studio and its CEO Yoo, on charges of violating the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection (defamation). A sports newspaper reporter who wrote an article based on false information provided by By4M was also jointly reported on the same charges.
Eun-ha Shim Photo by Asia Economy DB
In the complaint, former lawmaker Ji claimed that By4M provided false information to a sports newspaper that it had signed a contract with Shim Eun-ha for a drama appearance and paid a contract fee, which led to the publication of a false article.
However, Shim Eun-ha explained that she had neither discussed nor signed any contract for a project with By4M this year or last year, and that there had been no meetings or phone calls.
She further stated, "Shim Eun-ha has not delegated or entrusted anyone with agency duties related to her appearance contracts," and added, "We consider this a malicious illegal act."
As evidence, they pointed to an article reporting that By4M was negotiating investment attraction with multiple financial investors five days before an article about Shim Eun-ha's comeback was published in March last year.
The rumors of Shim Eun-ha's comeback were reignited after 11 months by a report from a media outlet the previous morning.
By4M Studio stated, "We signed a contract with Shim Eun-ha for a project last year and paid the contract fee," and "We aim to confirm and produce her comeback work this year."
In response, Shim Eun-ha's side denied the claims, saying, "She has never received any contract fee, and the claim that she signed a contract for a project is groundless."
The next day, on the morning of the 2nd, By4M Studio announced through a media outlet, "We have confirmed that Mr. A, who claimed to act on behalf of Shim Eun-ha and received 1.5 billion KRW as a contract fee, did not deliver the money to Shim Eun-ha."
They also expressed their apology, saying, "We apologize to Shim Eun-ha and her family for the mishandling of this matter."
However, Shim Eun-ha's side stated, "We will not accept an insincere apology," and "We will hold them accountable to the end."
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