
South Korean actor Lee Seung-gi cuts ties with father-in-law, following latter's arrest for alleged stock manipulation
South Korean actor-singer Lee Seung-gi, 38, announced on Tuesday (Apr 29) that he and his wife Lee Da-in have severed ties with the latter's family, following the arrest of Lee Da-in's father, Lee Hong-heon.
On Tuesday morning, it was reported that Lee Hong-heon had been arrested for his alleged involvement in the stock manipulation of the renewable energy company Quantapia and for violating the Capital Markets Act.
Lee Hong-heon was previously on trial for artificially inflating stock prices, and in 2018, he was sentenced to four years in prison and a fine of 2.5 billion won (US$1.75 million). However, Lee was acquitted the following year after filing an appeal.
The appeal was overturned in 2024 by South Korea's Supreme Court.
Following Lee Hong-heon's arrest on Tuesday, Lee Seung-gi issued a statement, via his agency, apologising for past remarks in which he defended his father-in-law.
"Although my father-in-law was previously sentenced to a fine in the ongoing allegations of illegal conduct, he has recently been indicted again by authorities for similar unlawful acts. As someone who had been waiting for the outcome based on family trust, I am devastated by my father-in-law's misconduct," said Lee.
"I deeply regret speaking carelessly last year without fully reviewing the issues related to my father-in-law. I believe that any illegal actions must be justly punished, and I sincerely apologise to the victims who may have suffered because of my rash judgement."
Lee added that the incident had "severely damaged the trust within the family to an irreparable degree".
"After much deliberation, my wife and I have decided to sever ties with my in-laws. From now on, I will live with sound values and contribute to a healthy society. Once again, I bow my head in apology for causing concern and disappointment over this personal matter."

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Straits Times
43 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Spain's top prosecutor poised to face trial over leak accusation
FILE PHOTO: Members of the media gather outside the Supreme Court ahead of a trial of Catalan separatist politicians, in Madrid, Spain, February 12, 2019. REUTERS/Susana Vera/File Photo MADRID - Spain's Supreme Court is set to put the prosecutor general on trial over allegations of leaking confidential information in a tax fraud case involving the partner of a leading opposition figure, according to a court document seen by Reuters on Monday. The case is at the heart of frictions between Spain's centre-left national government and the right-wing leader of the Madrid region, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, with each side accusing the other of corruption. The investigative judge's decision that the case against Prosecutor General Alvaro Garcia Ortiz warrants trial is unprecedented since Spain's return to democracy in 1978. The government appointed Garcia Ortiz, 57, to the post in August 2022. A member of a progressive jurists' association, he has a background in environmental law and led the public prosecution in the high-profile Prestige oil spill. In his writ, judge Angel Hurtado said there was enough evidence to proceed against Garcia Ortiz on accusations of sharing with media the contents of an email exchange between the lawyer representing Ayuso's boyfriend, Alberto Garcia Amador, and the regional prosecutor's office. Hurtado's decision can still be appealed. In the leaked email, Garcia Amador's attorney offered his client's admission to two counts of tax fraud in exchange for a negotiated settlement with Madrid prosecutors to avoid jail penalties. Garcia Amador later testified in court that he had no knowledge of the proposed deal. Hurtado, who launched the case last October, said the email held sensitive personal information, protected under lawyer-prosecutor confidentiality, and claimed that Garcia Ortiz acted under instructions from Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's office in order to "win the narrative". Sanchez said at the time that the prosecutor was "doing his job, going after delinquents". The judge said Garcia Ortiz had erased data from his mobile devices during the investigation, which he labelled an act of "obstruction of justice". Garcia Ortiz has refused to resign and repeatedly defended his innocence and impartiality. His office said in a statement on Monday he would "continue defending the actions and integrity of the institution he represents". Justice Minister Felix Bolanos said he had full confidence in Garcia Ortiz and called him an "exemplary public servant". REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

Straits Times
5 hours ago
- Straits Times
Squid Game spin-offs possible after hit Netflix series ends, says creator
It may be the end of Squid Game when the final chapter of the global phenomenon premieres on June 27 on Netflix. However, creator-director Hwang Dong-hyuk is not closing the doors to the Squid Game universe that he introduced in 2021. While he confirmed that there would not be a Season 4, he suggested there was room to explore the backstories and lives of the characters he created. 'I get curious myself when I write the story. What are the characters up to during the years between the seasons?' said the film-maker, 54, at a press conference held in Seoul on June 9. He added: 'I could do Squid Game spin-offs or a prequel if the opportunity allows.' Since its debut on Netflix on Sept 17, 2021, the fictional South Korean survival series – where contestants battle one another in gruesome games to be the last man standing to win 45.6 billion won (S$43 million) – remains the streamer's most popular show to date. When Season 2 started its run in December 2024, it broke the record for most views of a show in its premiere week and made it to Netflix's global Most Popular Non-English TV list in just three days. Season 2 ranks second on the list with 193 million views, second only to Season 1's 265 million views. Fronted by actors Lee Jung-jae and Lee Byung-hun, Squid Game also won several Hollywood accolades in 2021 and 2022, including six Primetime Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe and three Screen Actors Guild Awards. Picking up from Season 2's cliffhanger, Season 3 thrusts Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), aka Player 456, back into the brutal heart of the games after a failed rebellion. Having witnessed the death of his best friend at the hands of the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), the games' mastermind, Gi-hun is even more determined to take down the Front Man once and for all. Season 3 also stars Kang Ha-neul, Park Sung-hoon, Yim Si-wan and Lee Jin-uk as some of the surviving contestants, while Wi Ha-jun and Park Gyu-young reprise their police and games guard characters respectively. Calling his Squid Game journey a 'miracle', Hwang admits he never expected the series would receive such a reception. 'Everyone wants to have a successful career and a project, but nobody would have expected this much success from one project,' says Hwang, adding he particularly treasured the time spent on set with the actors and the interactions with international fans. Lee Jung-jae, 52, says the series' strength stems from its ability to explore universal themes about humanity, capitalism and social inequality. Cast of Squid Game 3 attending a press conference in Seoul on June 9. PHOTO: NETFLIX He also appreciates how the show balances timeless themes with well-written individual character stories and relationships. Hwang hinted that viewers will see more 'twisted and fatal' games in Season 3, a highlight of the series. The new spins on childhood games include a jump rope contest where the penalty will lead participants to fall to their death from a height. Another game is a deadly hide-and-seek set in a maze, where contestants will find themselves in life-threatening situations. Lee Byung-hun, whose role in Season 2 saw him infiltrating the game as Player 001, says closing the final chapter 'is bittersweet'. 'I remember we started filming in May 2020. It's been five years and I can't remember how the years have flown by,' says the 54-year-old. 'I'm so honoured to be able to show the power of South Korean content through this series,' adds the veteran actor, expressing his gratitude for being a part of a series that has created such a global phenomenon. Lee, who has starred in several Hollywood projects such as G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra (2009), Red 2 (2013) and The Magnificent Seven (2016) and has been on the films' promotional events, said he had never felt 'so much passion' from fans before Squid Game's tours in the United States. 'I'm really grateful to have so many fans rooting for us,' he adds. Joanne Soh is a lifestyle correspondent at The Straits Times, with a special interest in entertainment and pop culture. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

Straits Times
7 hours ago
- Straits Times
Twice to perform in Singapore twice, on Oct 11 and 12
Twice to perform in Singapore twice, on Oct 11 and 12 SINGAPORE – For Twice, two times is the charm, as the South Korean girl group will again perform two concerts at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, on Oct 11 and 12. These shows are part of their This Is For world tour, in support of their upcoming fourth studio album of the same name, which is set to be released on July 11. A week later, their tour will kick off in Incheon, South Korea, with two performances on July 19 and 20. It will then head to a number of Japanese locations, such as Osaka, Aichi, Fukuoka and Tokyo. After that, it will hit Macau and the Philippine municipality of Bulacan before landing in Singapore. Twice last took the stage here in 2023 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Sept 2 and 3. Those concerts were part of their Ready To Be tour and featured hits such as Feel Special (2019) and The Feels (2021). In 2019, they performed at the same venue for one night. Newer releases will be highlighted in their upcoming tour, such as music from their EPs Strategy (2024) and With You-th (2024). Ticketing details have not been released yet. The nine-member group, which debuted in 2015, consist of Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung and Tzuyu. More recently, they opened for Coldplay during the British rock band's six concerts in Seoul. During those shows in April, the girl group debuted their remix of the Coldplay song We Pray (2024), with them singing in Korean along with Coldplay's vocalist Chris Martin performing in English. On May 19, 2025, a 13-second teaser video for Twice's upcoming album was uploaded to social media by their company, JYP Entertainment. Titled Intro: Four, the clip shows all the members standing in formation in skin-tight cobalt outfits as a lively percussion beat plays. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.