Actress Park Min-young called in for questioning over ex-boyfriend's crypto arrest

SEOUL – South Korean prosecutors questioned K-drama actress Park Min-young on Monday (Feb 13)  in connection with embezzlement allegations at Bithumb, one of South Korea’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges.

The star’s management agency, Hook Entertainment, said in a statement on Wednesday: “We would like to offer some clarification on earlier reports published on Tuesday, which stated that Park Min-young was called in for police questioning and that she has been banned from leaving South Korea.

“Park Min-young was called in for questioning as a mere witness in the investigation, but the police did not ban her from travelling out of the country.”

The 36-year-old actress, who starred in Love In Contract and Forecasting Love And Weather (both 2022), used to date businessman Kang Jong-hyun, 41, the de facto owner of Bithumb. He was arrested earlier this month on multiple charges, including embezzlement, dereliction of duty and fraudulent transaction.

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The former couple’s relationship was made public in September 2022, but she quickly stated that it was already over.

At the time, her agency released a statement saying: “Park Min-young has already broken up with the alleged person. It’s false that she received a large amount of money from the alleged person.”

Prosecutors reportedly called Park in for questioning after finding her name on a list of bank accounts which contained Bithumb’s convertible bond transactions, according to media outlet The Korea Times.

This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.