By Kim Hyun-bin
More suspicions and claims are coming out almost daily regarding unpaid debts owed by parents of celebrities.
While some people criticize the celebrities for their parents' alleged immoral acts, others say they should not be held liable for wrongdoing by their parents.
In the last 10 days, five celebrities from rapper Microdot to former Miss Korea Cha Ye-rin have been embroiled in debt or fraud allegations not of their own but rather their parents.
The first allegation emerged Nov. 19 involving the parents of rapper Shin Jae-ho, better known as Microdot, who allegedly did not pay back 2 billion won ($1.8 million) they borrowed from neighbors and relatives in their hometown of Jecheon in North Chungcheong Province in 1996.
Internet users wrote that the family disappeared overnight and left for Auckland, New Zealand, where they still live.
Microdot initially denied this, but later apologized on behalf of his parents after evidence was released detailing the veracity of the allegation. He stopped appearing in TV programs after the apology, while commercials he had made were dropped by sponsors.
Rapper Dok2 was also embroiled in an allegation that his mother borrowed 10 million won from a friend in the late 1990s and did not repay it.
He faced criticism, not because of the debt but rather because of his comment about the allegation, calling the amount due "chump change."
"The 10 million won is less than my monthly food bill. Do you really think we ran away to better our livelihood?" he said on social media. "If you need the money, come to my concert, I will pay you."
Scores of comments criticized the rappers response, with some requesting he be subject to a tax audit.
On Wednesday Dok2 wrote, "I came in contact with the victim, and as a moral duty I have agreed to compensate them, and we have sealed the deal today."
Singer and actor Rain was the third to face similar accusations, with a person accusing his mother of failing to pay back money she owed.
"In 1988, Rain's mother operated a rice cake store and borrowed 17 million won worth of rice from our store and 8 million won in cash. We wrote letters to and contacted Rain but we did not get a response," the person wrote online Monday.
Rain's company first said the singer would meet the alleged victim for talks and pay the money to take moral responsibility if the allegation was true. But it said Wednesday that during a meeting with Rain's father and the company officials, the accuser had no proof of the loan but instead demanded 100 million won.
The company said Rain's family suffered from verbal abuse and defamation from the accuser during their meeting. "To restore their dignity, we will file a civil lawsuit and take all necessary legal measures," the Rain Company said.
Also in the firing line was Mamamoo's Whee In whose father apparently borrowed 170 million won and then disappeared. The singer said she had not been in contact with her father since her parents divorce; but added that she would consult with her family to resolve the issue.
Responses are mixed over the allegations. Some observers say that while they do not have any legal responsibility for their parents' actions, they may be expected to have a moral one.
"Why does Microdot have to be blamed? The parents' fraud took place when he was only four, and so why should he take responsibility and face criticism?" one person wrote on Cheong Wa Dae's online petition site.
But another internet user said, "If a celebrity's family committed a crime and the victims are still suffering, who can remain quiet and let the celebrity laugh and talk on TV? That's why we say Microdot and others should retire."
More suspicions and claims are coming out almost daily regarding unpaid debts owed by parents of celebrities.
While some people criticize the celebrities for their parents' alleged immoral acts, others say they should not be held liable for wrongdoing by their parents.
In the last 10 days, five celebrities from rapper Microdot to former Miss Korea Cha Ye-rin have been embroiled in debt or fraud allegations not of their own but rather their parents.
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| Rain |
Internet users wrote that the family disappeared overnight and left for Auckland, New Zealand, where they still live.
Microdot initially denied this, but later apologized on behalf of his parents after evidence was released detailing the veracity of the allegation. He stopped appearing in TV programs after the apology, while commercials he had made were dropped by sponsors.
Rapper Dok2 was also embroiled in an allegation that his mother borrowed 10 million won from a friend in the late 1990s and did not repay it.
He faced criticism, not because of the debt but rather because of his comment about the allegation, calling the amount due "chump change."
"The 10 million won is less than my monthly food bill. Do you really think we ran away to better our livelihood?" he said on social media. "If you need the money, come to my concert, I will pay you."
Scores of comments criticized the rappers response, with some requesting he be subject to a tax audit.
On Wednesday Dok2 wrote, "I came in contact with the victim, and as a moral duty I have agreed to compensate them, and we have sealed the deal today."
Singer and actor Rain was the third to face similar accusations, with a person accusing his mother of failing to pay back money she owed.
"In 1988, Rain's mother operated a rice cake store and borrowed 17 million won worth of rice from our store and 8 million won in cash. We wrote letters to and contacted Rain but we did not get a response," the person wrote online Monday.
Rain's company first said the singer would meet the alleged victim for talks and pay the money to take moral responsibility if the allegation was true. But it said Wednesday that during a meeting with Rain's father and the company officials, the accuser had no proof of the loan but instead demanded 100 million won.
The company said Rain's family suffered from verbal abuse and defamation from the accuser during their meeting. "To restore their dignity, we will file a civil lawsuit and take all necessary legal measures," the Rain Company said.
Also in the firing line was Mamamoo's Whee In whose father apparently borrowed 170 million won and then disappeared. The singer said she had not been in contact with her father since her parents divorce; but added that she would consult with her family to resolve the issue.
Responses are mixed over the allegations. Some observers say that while they do not have any legal responsibility for their parents' actions, they may be expected to have a moral one.
"Why does Microdot have to be blamed? The parents' fraud took place when he was only four, and so why should he take responsibility and face criticism?" one person wrote on Cheong Wa Dae's online petition site.
But another internet user said, "If a celebrity's family committed a crime and the victims are still suffering, who can remain quiet and let the celebrity laugh and talk on TV? That's why we say Microdot and others should retire."
