Singer MC Mong performs at a concert. [Online community]
Singer MC Mong performs at a concert. [Online community]

A watch worn by singer MC Mong at a recent concert has drawn widespread attention online.

Video footage from MC Mong's recent Seoul concert began circulating on online communities, with viewers focusing on a yellow wristwatch he wore during the performance.

The watch is believed to be a Richard Mille product — a Swiss ultra-luxury brand — and is thought to be one of only 50 units made for tennis legend Rafael Nadal. It is currently trading on the secondhand market for around 1.8 billion won ($1.3 million).

Online commenters reacted with remarks such as "I thought we weren't supposed to worry about celebrities" and "He hasn't been active in a long time, but he must have plenty of money."

MC Mong has previously been alleged to have received more than 10 billion won worth of gifts — including expensive watches — from Cha Ga-won, chairman of One Hundred, who has been accused of being his extramarital partner.

YouTuber and former journalist Lee Jin-ho made the claim in a video posted in June, releasing what he described as a gift list. According to Lee, the items included vehicles — a Rolls-Royce Cullinan (700 million won), a Ferrari Roma (300 million won), a Rolls-Royce Spectre (500 million won) and a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen Classic (500 million won) — as well as watches including a Richard Mille (5 billion won), a Patek Philippe Tiffany (300 million won) and an Audemars Piguet Gold (300 million won). The list also included a bed (100 million won), a Bang & Olufsen TV (50 million won), an LG rollable TV (100 million won), furniture (500 million won), jewelry (1 billion won) and a deposit (1 billion won).

MC Mong has claimed that Chairman Cha sold or reclaimed some of the gifts. However, he is said to still have the high-end watches, the bed and jewelry worth 1 billion won.

MC Mong and Chairman Cha co-founded the entertainment agency One Hundred in 2023 but have since parted ways. Cha faces allegations of embezzling company funds to go on overseas gambling trips with MC Mong. He has also been embroiled in controversy over unpaid settlements to agency artists including Lee Seung-gi, Lee Mu-jin, The Boyz and EXO-CBX, as well as unpaid staff salaries and vendor payments. He faces jeonse fraud allegations after failing to return a 10.5 billion won jeonse deposit to Lee Seung-gi, and has been accused of causing losses exceeding 60 billion won to singer Baekhyun. He was recently indicted and detained on charges of defrauding a company called Nomers of about 30 billion won.


paq@heraldcorp.com