South Korean entertainment exec Cha Ga-won faces third arrest warrant over alleged 300 billion‑won fraud

Seoul police have submitted a third arrest warrant for Cha Ga‑won, the chairman of ChaGaWon PiaK Group and head of the entertainment agency WonHundoRed. The warrant, filed under the Specific Economic Crime Aggravated Punishment Act, cites fraud involving approximately 300 billion won.

Investigators allege Cha solicited large advance payments from partner companies for intellectual‑property projects tied to his artists, receiving 242 billion won and subsequently failing to launch the businesses. A separate allegation involves a 54 billion won lease‑deposit received under a rental‑contract pretense that was never fulfilled. Earlier arrest‑warrant requests were rejected by prosecutors for insufficient evidence. Cha has denied wrongdoing, describing the police actions as a hostile takeover attempt against his firm and asserting violations of his human‑rights, filing complaints with the National Human Rights Commission and appeals in court.