Broadcaster Park Soo-hong (55) has been accused of extortion by the representative of a food company with whom he has been in a legal dispute for about two years.
According to police reports on the 29th, on the 14th, the CEO of the food company, identified as A, filed a complaint with the Gangnam Police Station, claiming he was extorted by Park Soo-hong's side.
Previously, in September 2023, Park Soo-hong's agency filed a lawsuit against A's company for approximately 500 million won, claiming that they used Park's face in advertisements without permission. This case is currently under deliberation at the Seongnam branch of the Suwon District Court.
It has been reported that A's side claims to have a 'business partnership' with Park Soo-hong. They allege that Park Soo-hong's side initiated the lawsuit with the intention of obtaining greater profits than the original agreement, demanding 5-10% of the total revenue. A's side is said to have accused Park Soo-hong of extortion related to the 'unauthorized advertising' dispute.
Attorney B, who represented Park Soo-hong's side, noted in the complaint that just before the lawsuit was filed in June 2023, A received an apology that included 'I am deeply sorry and begging for forgiveness to the point of death' and 'It seems that it should be at the level of kneeling and saying, 'Please spare me.'
A's side claimed in the complaint, 'After refusing Park Soo-hong's demands, they pressured us, flaunting the status and influence of a famous celebrity and attorney,' and 'B threatened that he would lead the company to bankruptcy, causing even the representatives of the transaction companies I deal with to suffer.' A asserted that B's actions were 'instructed by Park Soo-hong' and has accused Park Soo-hong.
B is reported to have said, 'I just mentioned that if you're not going to pay me, then stop using Park Soo-hong's face, as I sold items using it for about a year without a contract.' The police plan to summon both sides soon to ascertain the facts.