Prosecutors Raid KBO and KBOP... Allegations of Embezzlement Related to Broadcasting Rights

Prosecutors have detected corruption allegations related to the broadcasting rights of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) and its subsidiary and have launched a forced investigation.

KBO [Image source=Yonhap News]

The Criminal Division 3 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Soo-min) sent prosecutors and investigators to the KBO Secretariat and its subsidiary KBOP in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 31st to secure related materials.

KBOP is a company responsible for managing league sponsorship selection, attracting official league sponsors, and handling integrated commercialization projects and league broadcasting rights businesses delegated by each team.

Prosecutors are known to have detected allegations of breach of trust and bribery involving KBO executive Mr. A and Aclla, a sports marketing company operating TV channels such as SPOTV, and have initiated a forced investigation. They plan to clarify suspicions that Mr. A used his position to provide benefits related to broadcasting rights and received money and goods in return.

Earlier, the Financial Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency referred Aclla's CEO to the police in May last year on charges of embezzlement amounting to billions of won. At that time, the police investigated after detecting that part of the embezzled funds flowed to Mr. A's wife as salary but decided not to prosecute.

However, the prosecution appears to have effectively reopened the investigation, finding grounds for suspicion in these allegations and proceeding with a forced investigation. Coincidentally, the day prosecutors conducted the search and seizure was one day before the opening of this year's KBO regular season.