Microdot's parents apprehended for fraud allegations

By Kim Hyun-bin

The parents of rapper Shin Jae-ho, better known by his stage name Microdot, arrived in Korea, Monday evening, about five months after allegations of them committing fraud emerged.

The two were taken into police custody soon after they landed at Incheon International Airport, and transferred to Jecheon Police Station in North Chungcheong Province for questioning

According to police, the couple is accused of borrowing nearly 600 million won from 10 neighbors and relatives in their hometown of Jecheon in 1996 and fleeing to New Zealand without paying back what they owed. The parents have been living there ever since, while their two sons returned to Korea some years back to become rappers, under the names Microdot and Sanchez. In 1997, police suspended an investigation into them as their whereabouts were unknown.

“We are sorry, we had no choice as we were affected by the Asian financial crisis,” Microdot's father told reporters at the airport. “We will fully cooperate with investigators.”

Since the allegation emerged in November with online comments by people who claimed Microdot's parents defrauded them of money, the couple had said they would come to Korea to settle the issue.

It is said they hired a lawyer and paid back part of their debt.

“In some of the cases, the statute of limitations has passed while some other victims came to a compromise with them. However, we will question the suspects and conduct a thorough investigation,” police said. “We will decide if we need to apply for an arrest warrant after our investigation.”

When the allegation emerged, Microdot initially denied it and threatened to sue the accusers for defamation. However, after the Jecheon Police Station revealed the rapper's parents were sued in 1997, he came forward with an official apology, claiming he was unaware of the situation.

He stepped down from all his television shows and said he would take responsibility as a son and help with compensation. But he has since ceased all contact with the press. The police at the time asked Interpol to issue a Red Notice for his parents.