Stars who couldn't break the law

The ‘debttoo’ (#debttoo) that shook the entertainment industry five years ago is still ongoing. Parents take advantage of the fact that their children are celebrities to borrow money and the children carry the 'debt label'.

The revelation of star families' debt is still an issue that attracts public attention. When a top star's name is mentioned in a negative issue related to debt, it raises the level of a serious crime.

Actor Shim Hyung-tak went on air after a two-year hiatus and confessed to his mother's wrong investments. He was said to have purchased his first home 15 years after his debut, but lost all his wealth in an instant due to his mother.

He said, "My mother had a lien (the right of the person in possession of the property to hold it until the bond is repaid). It took a long time before I found out about this. Every time I entered the house, I had to ask for permission." said.

Shim Hyung-tak later moved to an apartment in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, overlooking the Han River in 2016. However, he said that he was kicked out without receiving a single penny due to a mortgage due to his mother's wrong investment, and said, "I left without even a single piece of furniture. The house was suddenly sold at auction and the owner changed."

Shim Hyeong-tak, who endured his mother's investment failure by taking sleeping pills. Due to severe auditory hallucinations, he eventually had to leave the entertainment industry for a while.

The star best known for his 'parent' debt is Microdot. Microdot, who reached his heyday after appearing on Mnet's 'Show Me the Money 4' in 2018 and then joining Channel A's 'Urban Fisherman', had his parents run a dairy farm in Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province from 1990 to 1998. He was accused of borrowing about 400 million won and then fleeing to New Zealand without paying it back, and stopped his activities.

Han So-hee, who has established herself as a top actress, also experienced a similar controversy. Han So-hee's mother sold her daughter's name and incurred a large amount of debt. It was revealed that Han So-hee's mother arbitrarily opened a bank account when Han So-hee was a minor and used the account to borrow money without Han So-hee's knowledge. In addition to borrowing money from her daughter's bank account, Han So-hee's mother was also caught up in a private document forgery case.

Han So-hee showed a firm attitude, saying that she had no plans to take responsibility for her mother's debt. He also pledged to block the mother's actions of abusing her daughter's fame.

Actress Cha Ye-ryun also paid off 1 billion won in debt on behalf of her father. Due to her parents' divorce, Cha Ye-ryun lived alone with her mother, but it is known that she learned of her father's debt and paid off the debt.

In addition to the mentioned stars, Jang Yoon-jung, Park Bo-gum, Han Go-eun, and Jo Yeo-jeong have also been under suspicion of debt because they are famous celebrities even though they have cut off contact with their parents. Parents and children are said to have a natural relationship, but that natural relationship is not always a good relationship. People who have been scammed and stars who have been harmed by their parents are all victims. I just hope that another star who is a victim of debt doesn't emerge.

Ryu Ye-ji, Ten Asia Reporter ryuperstar@tenasia.co.kr