"After Filming a Music Video..." Japanese Trainee Who Vanished Before Debut Faces Travel Ban

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[The Financial News]  Police have launched an investigation after one Japanese trainee suddenly disappeared just before the debut of an idol group.
According to Yonhap News Agency and others on the 3rd, the Seoul Yeongdeungpo Police Station recently received a complaint from the idol group's agency and placed Japanese trainee A under a travel ban on fraud charges. A travel ban is a measure that prohibits a foreign national suspected of a crime from leaving the country.
A, one of six members in the male group, vanished in December last year, two months before debut, saying only that "the relationship of trust had collapsed."
At the time, the group had already finished filming its music video and had revealed the songs and even the members' faces. But after A suddenly disappeared, the group eventually debuted in February as a five-member act and has continued its activities without him.
The agency claims it suffered losses worth about 57.43 million won over roughly four months because of A's disappearance. The amount includes training costs, song and choreography production expenses, recording fees, music video filming costs, meals, and dormitory rent.
A is also said to have been in a so-called "dual contract" situation, having signed with another agency while preparing to debut under the current company.
The agency told Yonhap News Agency, "We confirmed that A also suddenly cut off contact and disappeared from the company he had previously signed with," adding, "He has repeatedly signed with Korean agencies, received huge investments, and then run away to Japan when it was time to begin activities."
Police believe A is still in South Korea and are tracking his whereabouts.
newssu@fnnews.com Kim Su-yeon Reporter