Former manager of scandal-plagued singer Baek sought

The Seoul District Prosecutor's Office (SDPO) said Monday that the sex video that sparked a scandal involving pop singer Baek Ji-Young was deliberately released for money by her former manager, also her sex partner in the video.

The computer investigation squad at the SDPO put Kim Sok-Wan, 38, known as Kim Si-Won, on the wanted list on suspicion of producing and distributing pornography. The step was taken in accordance with the Basic Law on Electric Communications. Kim is now staying in the United States, a spokesman for the team said.

Prosecutors indicted Chong Heung-Sik, 36, another manager, on suspicion of distributing the video in collusion with Kim. Two other people were also being sought in the case.

According to the SDPO announcement, Kim videotaped a sexual encounter with Baek without her knowledge in December 1998. Early the next year, Baek cancelled her contract with Kim while she was preparing her first album.

The prosecutors suspect that Kim, who was suffering financial difficulties, distributed the video to earn money. They did not rule out the possibility that Kim made the videotape in a bid to blackmail Baek or extort money from her.

Kim went to the United States with his accomplices in November last year and opened an Internet site through which he sold the sex video for $19.99.

After the file was widely circulated here, some news reports raised the possibility that the pictures might have been digitally altered. Kim claimed he was Baek's sex partner in the video in an interview with the SBS for the "Midnight TV Entertainment" program.