A man identified as Mr. A—the father of a well-known K-pop idol—has been banned from leaving South Korea due to allegations of large-scale fraud totaling nearly 291.9 billion KRW (approx. $210 million). On July 8, the Seoul Administrative Court rejected his appeal to lift the travel restriction, upholding the Ministry of Justice’s extended ban.

Mr. A is accused of defrauding numerous investors over a 17-month period starting in September 2022, using a platform that promised high returns. Authorities imposed the travel ban in April 2024, and it has been renewed monthly since.

In court, Mr. A argued that his family ties—including a son active in a K-pop group—and business obligations proved he had no intention of fleeing. He also claimed the restriction was harming his company’s operations, as international travel was necessary.

However, the court dismissed his claims, citing the severity of the case and the potential for a long-term investigation. It emphasized public interest in ensuring justice, noting Mr. A’s frequent prior overseas travel raised concerns about possible non-compliance with future legal proceedings.

The court concluded that personal circumstances, including his son’s celebrity status, did not outweigh the risk of obstruction or flight.