A director of UNI CHEM(011330), a KOSPI-listed company that took part in producing KBS's new drama "Not you, another love," is under suspicion of embezzlement totaling 1.5 billion won. The case has reignited debate over the appropriateness of the business push and decision-making for a past KBS drama in which the director and the director's sibling were involved.
According to a statement circulated in the broadcasting industry on the 29th, A, the sibling of the UNI CHEM inside director suspected of embezzlement, worked at a drama production company in the past and pushed for the production of the 2024 KBS drama "Last Summer." At the time, KBS, through its drama production subsidiary Monster Union, signed a production contract worth about 15 billion won with A's production company.
Despite internal concerns about weak business prospects due to failures such as overseas presales, the drama scheduling and contract moved forward as planned, and it posted ratings in the 2% range. Monster Union is said to have suffered losses in the 10 billion won range due to the drama's failure.
Afterward, a KBS audit found decision-making problems in the process of pushing the drama and initiated disciplinary procedures against the head of the drama center. The Board of Audit and Inspection also investigated the matter and was said to have requested a criminal complaint against those involved.
In addition to producing "Last Summer," A was also listed as the largest shareholder of Studio The Black. In 2023, A sold 100% of A's Studio The Black equity to Enter Partners, then a subsidiary of Kyungnam Pharm, for 9 billion won. Studio The Black was later absorbed into Enter Partners, and the separate corporate entity was dissolved. Enter Partners changed its name to HANJOO ART(058450) the following year. As of March this year, A and Kyungnam Pharm(053950) hold 7.36% and 5.57% equity, respectively.
Like A, B, the UNI CHEM inside director suspected of embezzlement, also served as CEO of the production company Arc Media and took part in producing KBS dramas. Arc Media is majority-owned by One Asia Partners and absorbed Story Hunter, which B founded in 2019. Questions were also raised that KBS's "My perfect stranger," produced by Arc Media, moved forward without a fair open call process, and the person in charge at the time was reportedly disciplined for violating rules.
As B's alleged embezzlement surfaced, the brothers' backgrounds and KBS's ongoing drama "Not you, another love" also drew attention. The statement said that staffers who were disciplined in "Last Summer" and "My perfect stranger" took part in the scheduling and production contract for the drama, and that UNI CHEM, where B is a director, is handling production. UNI CHEM has operated in the fur and leather business but expanded into content production.
UNI CHEM said, "The amount arising from alleged embezzlement and other charges was identified during the company's internal audit process," adding, "We will take necessary measures in accordance with due procedures."
KBS said it "will not respond" regarding how the drama production involving A and A's sibling came about. KBS is said to be discussing internal response measures, judging that some of the claims about past drama production processes include parts that differ from the facts.