Film involving Cho Kuk accused of 'audience manipulation'... Police investigate 462 films including 'You Are Cho Kuk'

"Investigation into Box Office Audience Manipulation Allegations for 462 Films"
Films Released from 2019 to This Year Under Investigation

The police revealed that they are investigating suspicions of box office ranking manipulation by movie theaters and distributors inflating audience numbers for 462 films.

A Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency official stated at a press briefing on the 17th, "We are conducting an investigation based on reports that the audience numbers for 462 films from 2019 to this year were manipulated."

Movie poster for 'Geudaega Joguk'
Photo by Et9 Film Co., Ltd.

However, the police explained that although the manipulated audience numbers have been roughly compiled, it is difficult to specify the exact manipulation, and it is not at a level to announce in detail.

Earlier, the Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency conducted raids on the multiplex companies CGV, Lotte Cinema, and Megabox, as well as distributors Lotte Entertainment, Showbox, and Kidari Studio on the 13th of last month on suspicion of obstruction of business. They are accused of inflating audience numbers to manipulate box office rankings and obstructing the Korea Film Council’s work of compiling box office data.

The police investigated suspicions of audience number manipulation for four films, including the documentary film "Geudaega Joguk" featuring former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, as well as "Emergency Declaration," "Hot Blood," and "Rain and Your Story."

Subsequently, they secured a list of suspected films with manipulated audience numbers based on ticket issuance records for dozens of films and expanded the scope of the investigation.

[Photo by Pixabay]

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