[Yonhap]
[Yonhap]

Nam Gung-gyeon, chairman of entertainment company Fantagio — a co-producer of the popular SBS drama series "Agent Kim Reactivated" — is under investigation on allegations that he used undisclosed information about Kosdaq-listed Humasis.

The financial crimes unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Metropolitan Investigation Unit took over the case on July 22 from the Mapo Police Station in Seoul and launched a formal investigation into allegations that Nam and Kim Seong-kon, former chief executive of Humasis, violated the Capital Markets Act, according to News1.

Police had received the complaint in June and completed an interview with the complainant on July 6.

The core of the complainants' allegations is that Nam, as the de facto controlling shareholder of Humasis, exploited his informational advantage to selectively leak details — including the progress of major business ventures and share buyback plans — to certain shareholders, influencing their investment decisions. The complainants argue that if such undisclosed information was passed to select shareholders before official public disclosure, it would constitute fraudulent unfair trading under the Capital Markets Act.

Humasis, an in-vitro diagnostics manufacturer, pursued a lithium mine exploration project in Zimbabwe in 2024. The complainants allege that Nam mentioned details of the project during a phone call before it was officially announced. A share buyback plan worth 30 billion won ($21.1 million) was also allegedly discussed in advance over the phone in the same manner.

Police have secured recorded phone call files containing the relevant content and are analyzing them.

In response to the allegations, Nam told News1 that "the share buyback and cancellation were carried out through lawful decision-making and disclosure procedures, including board approval." On the Zimbabwe lithium project, he said he had explained the progress — including the establishment of a corporation, acquisition of mining rights and exploration updates — because "representatives of minority shareholders were in a position of not trusting the progress of the business."

Fantagio recently participated as a co-producer of the SBS Friday-Saturday drama series "Agent Kim Reactivated." Nam, as chairman of Fantagio, expressed his commitment to expanding the company's content business when the drama production contract was signed.


min3654@heraldcorp.com