Rumor-Ridden Singer Most Searched Online
By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
A series of rumors surrounding a renowned trot singer took the top spot on the nation's No. 1 online search engine Naver last week.
Trot singer Na Hoon-a, 61, topped the Web site's most searched word list because of a string of rumors concerning him and actresses.
The singer disappeared from the limelight in March last year after abruptly canceling his planned concert and has not been seen in public since.
Recently, some media outlets said his disappearance may be linked with Japanese gangsters ``yakuza.'' The rumor says a Korean actress of surname ``Kim'' is the mistress of a yakuza boss in Korea and entered into an illicit relationship with Na, resulting in the gangster's revenge on the singer.
Actress Kim Hye-soo, 38, and Kim Sun-a, 33, both of whom were allegedly pointed out to be the gangster's lover, denied the allegation.
Police started investigating this case last week, tracing the whereabouts of Na.
According to police, Na returned to Seoul on Jan. 5 after traveling to some countries in East Asia including Japan, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates.
Coming in second on the list was entertainer Ha Dong-hun, widely known by his stage name Haha. He won the first prize in a pop-chart program aired on Friday.
He is going to the Army in February. After undergoing four-week-military training, he will take part in a 22-month-long public service stint instead of mandatory military service.
Female comedian Kwak Hyun-wha ranked third. Some TV viewers claimed Kwak's breast was exposed during a comedy program aired on Jan. 9. Producers of the program denied the allegation the following day
Coming in sixth was Huh Kyung-young, 58, who ran in the Dec. 19 presidential election.
He gained high popularity during the electioneering period thanks to his eye-catching commitments such as 100 million won subsidy for all new married couples and a location change of U.N headquarters to Panmunjeom, a village on the inter-Korean border, from current New York City.