"We even shot a music video"... Japanese trainee who disappeared just before idol debut sent to prosecutors

[Financial News] A Japanese trainee in his 20s who suddenly disappeared just before an idol group debut has been handed over to prosecutors on fraud charges.
According to Yonhap News Agency, News 1, and others on the 4th, the Seoul Yeongdeungpo Police Station sent the Japanese trainee, identified as A, 29, to prosecutors without detention on the 29th of last month.
A was set to debut as a member of a six-member male group. The music video had already been filmed, and the songs and members' faces had been revealed. But in December last year, two months before the debut, he suddenly vanished, saying only that "the relationship of trust had collapsed."
In the end, the group debuted and is now promoting as a five-member act without A.
The agency estimated its losses from A's disappearance at 57.43 million won. The amount includes training costs, song and choreography production expenses, recording fees, music video filming costs, meals, and dorm rent.
After learning belatedly that A, who had signed an exclusive contract, had secretly entered into a double contract with another agency, the company took legal action in March.
At the time, the agency said, "We confirmed that A had also suddenly cut off contact and disappeared from the company he had signed with before ours," adding, "He has repeatedly signed contracts with Korean agencies, received large investments, and then run away to Japan when it was time to begin activities."
After receiving the agency's complaint, police placed A under a departure ban and continued the investigation. A departure ban is a measure that prohibits a foreign national from leaving the country.
A is currently believed to be staying in South Korea.
A police official said, "The suspect kept failing to appear despite repeated requests from police, but eventually showed up at the last minute, allowing the investigation to be concluded."
[email protected] Kim Su-yeon Reporter