Son Woong-jung Urges Probe Into Former Son Heung-min Agent on Fraud Allegations

\r\n[The Financial News] Son Woong-jung, the father of South Korea national football team captain Son Heung-min, has filed a petition with police calling for a thorough investigation into his former agent, who is under suspicion of fraud.
According to a review by The Financial News on the 24th, Son filed the petition with the Financial Crime Investigation Unit, Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, on the 23rd of last month, urging an investigation into Son Heung-min's former agent, identified by the surname Jang. Jang is under police investigation on fraud charges under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.
In the petition, Son's side said, "I have never signed any document transferring Son Heung-min's advertising or portrait rights," and added, "Son & Football Limited has held the exclusive and sole agency rights for Son Heung-min since 2013." It also requested, "Please secure his custody and conduct a thorough investigation so that no further victims emerge."
Earlier, the head of a content production company, identified as A, filed a complaint with Seoul Gangnam Police Station last year, accusing Jang of fraud and saying he had failed to recover about 1.1 billion won out of 5.8 billion won.
According to the complaint, Jang allegedly told A in 2019 that he held the rights to arrange advertising deals for Son Heung-min and to use his portrait rights, and presented an exclusive agency contract. Believing him, A signed a company acquisition deal worth about 11.7 billion won and paid the first installment, which accounted for 49 percent of the stake. The dispute arose after Son Heung-min's side denied that the contract had been drawn up or even existed.
In connection with the case, Jang filed a lawsuit against Son & Football Limited seeking settlement payments, but a court reportedly ruled in 2024 that "it is difficult to conclude that Jang held exclusive rights related to Son Heung-min" and partially accepted his claim. In a separate civil suit, he was also reportedly ordered to pay A the unpaid stock purchase amount and damages.
The Financial Crime Investigation Unit, Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, which took over the case, summoned Jang for questioning last month and is examining whether the exclusive agency contract was fabricated and whether investors were deceived.
425_sama@fnnews.com Choi Seung-han Reporter