Singer MC Mong (left) and Cha Ga-won, chairman of Piark Group and head of One Hundred Label. [Yonhap]
Singer MC Mong (left) and Cha Ga-won, chairman of Piark Group and head of One Hundred Label. [Yonhap]

Cha Ga-won, chairman of Piark Group and head of entertainment agency One Hundred Label, who was detained on fraud charges, allegedly paid off far more of singer MC Mong's gambling debts than previously known — around 20 billion won ($14 million) — and later ordered a negative online campaign against the singer after their relationship soured, according to newly surfaced claims.

A YouTube channel called "Yeonye Dwittongyeong Yi Jin-ho" published a video Tuesday titled "[Shocking Exclusive] 'Bury MC Mong' — Chairman Cha Ga-won … Shocking Smear Campaign Recording Obtained."

The video features audio recordings purportedly of Cha's voice, which host Yi Jin-ho said were obtained through a tip from someone close to Cha. Yi added, however, that the contents reflect only Cha's side of the story and that their accuracy has not been verified.

In one recording, a person believed to be Cha said he was swindled out of far more than the 12 billion won previously reported. "It wasn't 12 billion won that MC Mong squeezed out of me — it was more. He took about 40 billion won from me," the person said. That figure far exceeds the 12 billion won Cha was previously said to have repaid on MC Mong's behalf.

The person identified as Cha also said MC Mong had accumulated large gambling debts and had threatened both him and singer Baekhyun. "Baekhyun came to me in tears, saying he didn't want to be entangled with MC Mong anymore, and I paid off 20 billion won on his behalf," the person said. The recording also included claims that Baekhyun suffered significant emotional distress during a past contract dispute involving the group Exo.

The video also raised allegations that Cha directed a so-called "reverse viral" campaign targeting MC Mong.

Yi claimed that after Cha and MC Mong parted ways last year, Cha worked through a viral marketing firm to spread negative content about the singer online, spending around 100 million won on the effort.

In a separate recording, a person believed to be a representative of the viral marketing firm warned that the service was expensive and that if discovered, the clients would have to bear full responsibility. The person believed to be Cha responded, "Whether we sink or swim, we do it together," signaling his intent to proceed.

Yi's claims, however, are based on recordings and tips and have not been independently verified.

Meanwhile, Cha was detained Monday on charges of aggravated fraud under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes. He is accused of proposing an intellectual property-based business venture using celebrities under his agency to a company called Nomers Co., signing a contract, collecting 24.2 billion won in advance payments, and then failing to carry out the project.


betterj@heraldcorp.com