Park Gyu-ri, 38, a member of girl group KARA, is set to confront her ex-boyfriend, Song Ja-ho, 36, in court four years after their breakup, in connection with the 'PICA Coin' investment fraud case.
Legal sources indicate that Park Gyu-ri is scheduled to attend a trial as a witness at 2 PM on the 16th, at the Seoul Southern District Court's 12th criminal division.
Previously, Song Ja-ho was brought to trial in July 2023 on charges of aggravated fraud under the Specific Economic Crimes Act, embezzlement, business obstruction, and violation of the Capital Markets Act. He is accused of recruiting investors for unsecured art pieces and manipulating the market price of the virtual asset 'PICA Coin'. He is suspected of embezzling approximately 33.9 billion won along with the 'Cheongdam-dong stock rich' brothers, Lee Hee-jin and Lee Hee-moon. Prosecutors have stated that the number of victims reaches approximately 14,000.
PICA Coin was listed on an exchange in 2021 but was delisted in June of the same year, with trading support subsequently halted. Related to this case, former exchange employees and listing brokers are also undergoing separate trials.
Park Gyu-ri had previously worked as a curator and Chief Communications Officer (CCO) for the PICA Project and broke up with Song Ja-ho in September 2021. After their breakup in 2022, she was investigated by the prosecution as a reference person. The prosecution has determined that there is no evidence to suggest Park Gyu-ri was directly involved in the PICA Coin-related crimes.
Photo=Baik Seung-Chul
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)