Actor Song Ji-hyo warned of a strong response after fallout spread to her over her father's 'debt투' allegations.
On the 21st, NAMSAN (Lim, Chung & Suh), legal representative for Song Ji-hyo's agency Nexus E&M, issued an official statement saying, "Recently Nexus E&M received an email mentioning matters related to the father of our actor Song Ji-hyo. The email raised suspicions that the company operated by Song Ji-hyo's father is in a state of debt default, and attached a questionnaire along with materials such as a banner draft saying "famous celebrity parent, known on TV for passenger ship business!""
The law firm said, "The act of sending such a banner draft that goes beyond a simple inquiry could be interpreted as an intention by someone to post that banner in front of Nexus E&M to damage Song Ji-hyo's honor and image and furthermore to obstruct the company's normal business activities," and emphasized, "Such acts are criminal offenses that can be punished."
It continued, "The court has ruled that even if a warning of harm is made as part of exercising rights against the other party, if that warning of harm 'is not within a socially acceptable degree when viewed against social customs or ethical norms' or 'does not constitute a reasonable means for a legitimate purpose,' it is subject to punishment," and noted, "We judge that the act of attaching such materials and sending them to Nexus E&M, which is not even Song Ji-hyo's father, constitutes a clear criminal act that exceeds what is socially acceptable."
Song Ji-hyo first revealed that her father ran a passenger ship business in Tongyeong on the SBS show Running Man in 2023, surprising viewers. Ji Seok-jin mentioned wealth, saying, "Even if it's a ship, doesn't one cost several billions?" and Song Ji-hyo drew a clear line by saying, "My parents are my parents, I'm myself."
In fact, Song Ji-hyo's father is known to be the CEO operating Y Shipping in Tongyeong. Y Shipping operates ferries connecting Tongyeong Junghwa Port with Yokjido and Yeonhwado, and runs a large 382-ton passenger ship that can carry tourists and even vehicles.
Meanwhile, on the show "Pinggego" last year, Yoo Jae-suk commented when Song Ji-hyo appeared as a guest, "There are rumors that your family is hugely rich because you run a passenger ship business in Tongyeong," Haha said, "You rank in the top 5 celebrity silver spoons," but Song Ji-hyo again clarified that her parents' business and she are unrelated, saying, "That is my parents' retirement funds. They used to run a shabu-shabu restaurant, but now they run a boat business that goes to Yokji."
Amid this, when an extortionate email targeting Song Ji-hyo was sent in relation to her father's alleged debt default, the agency classified it as a "criminal act" and hinted at legal action. It warned, "Nexus E&M has no intention of tolerating any form of threats, pressure, or unfair acts that infringe on a contracted actor's honor, personal rights, or the company's normal business activities, and if the same or similar unlawful acts are repeated in the future, we will swiftly and sternly exercise all possible legal measures such as criminal complaints and claims for damages."
[Photo] OSEN DB, SBS
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