Retired actress Shim Eun-ha receives official explanation for false report on her return to screens

연합뉴스 / 2023-02-03 17:47:59

▲ This file photo shows actress Shim Eun-ha in 2009. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Feb. 3 (Yonhap) -- BY4M Studio, which formerly announced the return of South Korean iconic actress Shim Eun-ha to the screens, explained that the firm was deceived by a counterfeit agent who deceived the Studio to believe to have signed an exclusive contract with the actress.

“A series of documents and related deeds have been confirmed to have been forged,” the Studio wrote in its announcement released on Friday.

“The CEO of our Studio signed a contract with an anonymous official, who insisted to be working for Shim Eun-ha, around Feb. of last year. The Studio thereupon paid 1.5 billion won out of the total 3 billion won for Shim's appearance,” the Studio explained. “However, the official’s claims that he was endowed with a legitimate authority and had delivered the down payment to Shim has been confirmed to be forged.”

BY4M Studio continued, “The contracts and documents that the official claimed to have been signed and sealed by Shim, along with the text messages, were also found to be fabricated,” adding, “The official even found Shim’s stand-in and arranged a fraudulent phone call.”

“A reference check according to our internal procedures has confirmed that the Studio was introduced to the official by a prominent entertainment producer,” BY4M Studio wrote. “The official used to serve as a representative of several well-known agencies in the past and was widely acknowledged in this industry, which is why BY4M Studio made no doubt of his personal details or the contract the official asserted to have vicariously signed for Shim.”

In addition, the Studio clarified, “We have been promptly making our decisions to make investments in works and artists since 2022 in the process of delivering dramas and films,” adding, “This incident also happened while we were trying to provide actress Shim top-notch treatment and consideration.”

“We deeply apologize for causing such a disturbance by delivering false information to the actor and her family members as well as those who have been notified of the headquarter’s report,” the Studio wrote. “We will hold the counterfeit official with all legal responsibilities and make every effort to prevent such an incident from recurring.”

BY4M Studio, a former advertising agency, has recently expanded its business to the music, video, and content industries.

Meanwhile, Shim accused the journalist who first released an article on her return without verifying the facts of violating the law on promoting the use of information and communication networks.

(This article is translated from Korean to English by Ha eun Lee)

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