"Not Embezzlement but Celebrity Humiliation" Kim Sumi's Side Responds

Kim Soo-mi's Side Claims "Exploiting Celebrity Status for Public Opinion Manipulation"
Napalgot F&B's Side States "Unauthorized Transfer of Company Brand"

Actor Kim Sumi and her son Jung Myungho have expressed their position through legal representatives after it was revealed that they were sued by the processed food distribution company Napalkkot F&B Co., Ltd. On the 23rd, Jang Heejin, a lawyer at Garojae Law Office representing Kim Sumi, stated, "This case arose after Mr. Jung filed a complaint with Seongdong Police Station last November against Mr. Song of Napalkkot F&B for charges including forgery and use of private documents, embezzlement, and fraud. Subsequently, Napalkkot F&B applied to the Mokpo branch of Gwangju District Court, which has jurisdiction over Napalkkot F&B, for suspension of Mr. Song’s duties based on the judgment that he was registered as CEO through forgery of private documents, and the court’s decision is pending."

Actor Kim Soo-mi and her son Jung Myung-ho expressed their position through their legal representative after it became known that they were sued by Napalkkot F&B Co., Ltd., a processed food sales and distribution company.
[Photo by Asia Economy DB]

He added, "It is suspected that Mr. Song sued Kim Sumi and Mr. Jung and then immediately leaked the information to the media," and conveyed the position that "(Kim Sumi) is the victim but was humiliated in the media simply because she is a celebrity." He further stated, "We will also strictly hold responsible for defamation regarding the public disclosure of the lawsuit, which is based solely on Mr. Song’s unilateral claims."

Direct Rebuttal to Controversies Such as 'Embezzling Money to Give Expensive Gifts to Daughter-in-Law'

Lawyer Jang also denied allegations that actress Seo Hyorim, Kim Sumi’s daughter-in-law and Jung’s wife, received expensive gifts with company funds, calling them "false information" and insisting, "This must also be corrected." He asked for understanding of their position, saying, "Please understand our efforts to dispute the facts to find the truth within the law and original intent," and requested, "Please wait until the legal judgment is made and the results come out."

Earlier, Napalkkot F&B filed a complaint on the 22nd against Kim Sumi and her son for violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Economic Crimes (embezzlement). The law firm Yeongdong, representing Napalkkot F&B, reportedly claimed, "Kim Sumi and her son Jung, as directors and shareholders, repeatedly transferred the exclusive brand 'Kim Sumi,' owned by Napalkkot F&B, to third parties without permission and personally received money and goods, causing losses to the company."

The appearance at the wedding of Jung Myung-ho, director of Napalggot F&B and son of actors Seo Hyo-rim and Kim Soo-mi [Photo by Yonhap News]

Jung, Kim Sumi’s son, has served as an internal director of Napalkkot F&B, a food distribution company established in 2018. He was appointed CEO of Napalkkot F&B in March 2021 but was dismissed by a board decision last November and is currently serving as a director.

In the complaint, Napalkkot F&B claimed that the Kim Sumi mother and son duo sold the trademark rights of the 'Kim Sumi' brand, which they had an exclusive contract with the company for 10 years, without permission about 10 times between 2019 and 2020 to a company operated by Jung, receiving approximately 565 million KRW in money and goods. They also alleged that Jung embezzled 623 million KRW of company funds while serving as CEO of Napalkkot F&B.

The embezzled amount included money withdrawn without permission and accounted for as 'Jung Myungho advance payment' (about 101.98 million KRW), money paid in place of obligations accounted for as 'Teacher’s house kimchi making,' 'Teacher’s house organic tableware set,' etc. (about 169 million KRW), and money paid as repayment of short-term loans and false service fees (about 400 million KRW).