A full-blown truth dispute between singer MC Mong and MBC’s investigative news program “PD Notebook” is escalating into an all-out showdown. Both sides are advancing conflicting claims, sending a wave of fallout across the entertainment industry.
The controversy began on the 18th of last month, when MC Mong previewed a social media live broadcast. He said he would expose people, including construction businessman A, who were allegedly involved in illegal gambling worth tens of billions of won, drawing public attention.
During the broadcast, MC Mong outright denied allegations that he had engaged in illegal gambling involving the embezzlement of company funds and a dispute over settlement money involving affiliated entertainers. He argued that all controversy was the result of A’s fabrication and raised suspicions that A had colluded with a particular media outlet.
MC Mong: “I Received Illegal Favoritism From the Production Team” — Naming Names in His Accusation
In particular, MC Mong launched sharp criticism at the production team of “PD Notebook.” He claimed he received illegal favoritism from illegal informants, taking the strong step of mentioning the production team’s real names.
He alleged that the production team visited Las Vegas, in the United States, under the pretext of reporting and received hospitality from false informants, where they then planned things together. He added that there could be violations of the Act on the Prohibition of Improper Solicitation and that he would not sit idly by while they conspired with criminals.
In response, the “PD Notebook” side directly rebutted MC Mong’s claims and hit back by saying it would fully and promptly disclose the substance of the allegations in a broadcast on the 2nd. Through the episode “MC Mong and the President’s K-Pop Sales Trade Secrets,” the network plans to dig into the hidden truth behind the flashy K-pop industry.
115 Billion Won in Investment Funds Vanishes, Sparking Suspicions of Overseas Gambling Trips
What the production team is focusing on is the massive flow of funds tied to Chairman Cha Ga-won, who leads mega entertainment company “One Hundred.” In just three years, Cha has brought in a large number of famous artists and emerged as a major player in the industry.
The “PD Notebook” side said it has spotted evidence that more than 115 billion won in advance investment funds that entered the entertainment company and its affiliates flowed into Cha’s personal account. The claim is that enormous money obtained as collateral against an artist’s intellectual property (IP) was used in ways that deviated from its original purpose.
Even more shocking is the allegation that some of this money went to MC Mong, who is a business partner, and was used for an overseas gambling trip. The production team demanded an explanation for the source of the funds, but MC Mong pointed to an information battle through a live broadcast, and the team warned it would reveal the full story of the gambling scandal with decisive evidence.
Ahead of the broadcast, the “One Hundred” side immediately pushed back. The company indicated it would take strong legal action over malicious slander and the spread of false facts directed at CEO Cha Ga-won and the firm. With the positions of both sides running on parallel tracks, public attention is now sharply focused on where this truth dispute will go.
