Shyster Who Preyed on Aspiring Singers Arrested

A 19-year-old high school girl in early August spotted an Internet ad for female singers who can dance posted by an entertainment management agency.

A former beauty pageant winner, the girl contacted the agency and went in for an audition. She passed and began residing at an exercise room in the agency’s office in mid-August.

The girl, however, grew a bit suspicious of the agency but thought it was legitimate since it had an exclusive contract with a former member of a famous pop music act. The agency even sent an official note to the girl’s school so that she could miss classes.

The girl dreamed about becoming a superstar, but instead suffered a nightmare. The agency’s chief demanded 8.5 million won (7,000 U.S. dollars) from her so that she could undergo plastic surgery. He also forced her to go to a motel and video café and sexually assaulted her.

Police in Seoul’s Gangnam district yesterday sought an arrest warrant for the man on the charge of theft and sexual assault through deception. He set up the agency in December last year, and reportedly pocketed 64 million won (55,454 dollars) from 11 clients under the pretext of plastic surgery costs and other expenses.

He is also suspected of forcing five women who sought the agency’s services to go to motels and video cafés and sexually assaulting them.

zozo@donga.com