November 29, 2024 — JTBC's Scandal Supervisor. The broadcast carried allegations of prostitution involving the CEO (referred to as Mr. A) of a well-known medical device manufacturing company.

The report was shocking: the medical device CEO was allegedly engaged in an inappropriate relationship with Ms. L, a woman in her 40s who is more than 20 years younger than him.

The whistleblower was none other than L's fiancé. On air, he revealed, "CEO A paid (my fiancée) money in exchange for sex."

However, just a few days later, the video disappeared. JTBC explained, "We decided to delete it after hearing that CEO A's wife became bedridden after watching the broadcast."

Eight months later — July 29, 2025.

CEO A still retains his position at the medical device company. Recently, he published an ESG report, boasting, "We uphold ethical management."

Meanwhile, the whistleblower has been locked in a grueling fight for over a year. Despite repeatedly reporting and filing complaints about the misconduct of influential figures, nothing has changed.

Then, he came to Dispatch. In his hands was his ex-girlfriend's "diary."

"Prominent figures in society paid for sex with my ex-girlfriend. It's all recorded in this diary. But I learned it's not easy to report on those with money and power." (Whistleblower)

Dispatch now reveals L's diary. It contains the names of 25 people, including: the CEO of a medical device company (A), the CEO of a drama production company (B), the vice chairman of a leisure group (C), the CEO of a venture capital firm (D), a lawyer (E), the chairman of a restaurant franchise (F), and the chairman of a famous golf course in Pocheon (G). At least 10 of them engaged in prostitution with her in exchange for money.

The fiancée was a VIP escort

L works in the arts and culture sector. She majored in Korean traditional dance and even received a Cultural Arts Award. She performs and teaches students.

Her other job was VIP escorting. She worked irregularly at "Korea House," once famous as the most expensive barbecue restaurant in Gangnam (now closed due to illegal business operations).

(Restaurant owner): Can you come tonight? A really rich chairman.

(Restaurant owner): I'll give you 1 million won. Come quickly.

(Restaurant owner): Chairman F (chicken franchise) asked for two women.

When a VIP customer visited, L would go at the call of the Korea House owner. She would cut the meat, pour drinks, and even perform traditional dances beside the chairman.

Her role didn't end at the restaurant. She would accompany the guests to second-round drinking venues for a fee. If the terms were right, she would follow them to a hotel.

It was through this route that KH Group Vice Chairman C was introduced to L.

Call and she will come

October 21, 2024 — L responded to a call from the Korea House owner and went to work. There, she met Vice Chairman C, the right-hand man of KH Group Chairman Bae Sang-yoon.

After dinner that evening, C went to a hotel with L. They spent the night together, and he paid her 3 million won. L took a photo of the hotel room view.

On October 26, C called her again. They met at Korea House for grilled meat. C asked her to accompany him to a karaoke bar, saying, "I have someone important to entertain."

According to the whistleblower, the person L met at that drinking session was a high-ranking police official. The whistleblower claimed, "C mobilized L to provide entertainment for the purpose of lobbying."

The police executive was reported to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO). However, the entertainment bribery allegation ended with a non-indictment. Prosecutors concluded, "The drinking session could not be clearly confirmed."

C has five prior convictions. He met former Ssangbangwool Chairman Kim Seong-tae in prison, built a friendship, and after release, helped Bae Sang-yoon through Kim's introduction.

Last year, he is known to have met People Power Party lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong at the Lotte Hotel. There are allegations he arranged a phone call between "fugitive" Bae Sang-yoon and "power figure" Kweon.

The whistleblower suspects C's reason for bringing L to the drinking session. "He saw L as a sexual commodity. Although I understand there was no sexual transaction that day, the intent was clear."

Payment for sex

After discovering his fiancée's promiscuous lifestyle, the whistleblower broke off the engagement and reported the illegal acts of the elite to major media outlets.

Scandal Supervisor had reported extensively on CEO A's prostitution allegations at the time, revealing KakaoTalk messages and photos between L and A as evidence.

CEO A is a former vice chairman of a major retail group. In 2020, he moved to a dental medical device company, where he currently serves as CEO.

He used his connections from his career to request JTBC to delete the broadcast. The video indeed disappeared within days.

Dispatch confirmed L and A met at Korea House in 2019 and maintained an inappropriate relationship for over four years.

Every time they had sex, A paid L between 1 million and 3 million won. L kept detailed diary entries recording the "date," "place," and "amount."

Their meetings were usually at hotels, though occasionally at L's home. Dispatch also obtained KakaoTalk messages showing they shared the front door passcode.

The whistleblower said he couldn't tolerate his fiancée's infidelity. He called A and rebuked him: "Do you know that your age (66) is similar to L's father's?"

A continued his brazen behavior. When the scandal broke, he told L, "If reporters call, say we only occasionally had meals together," urging her to give a false interview.

Dispatch met with CEO A. He admitted, "I met L when I was going through a hard time after leaving the retail group," but denied the prostitution charges: "The money I gave her was absolutely not for sex."

Records in the diary

Opening L's December 2021 diary revealed she met at least five men that month for meals, drinks, and sex.

Of note were heart (♡) symbols she drew above men's names, alongside the place and amount of money.

The man she met most frequently that month was CEO B, vice chairman of an investment company who had acquired drama production company C Media and became its CEO.

L recorded payments from B in her diary: 2 million won (Dec 3), 1 million won (Dec 15), and 1 million won (Dec 25).

Dispatch also obtained KakaoTalk messages L sent to B, confirming his Hannam-dong home address (matching his previous residence).

B explained the payments as "allowances." He told Dispatch, "I was introduced to L as a potential remarriage partner. Since we were dating, I gave her spending money."

However, suspicions remain. The age gap between them was over 20 years. The whistleblower asked, "If they were dating, why pay her every time they had sex?"

The two met at least three times in January 2022. On the 5th and 30th, B gave her 2 million won each time. L marked those entries with a heart.

The whistleblower said, "I asked her what the hearts meant, and she confessed they meant sexual relations."

B, however, consistently denied prostitution. "I was simply introduced to her as a dancer. We dated briefly. I hope the misunderstanding is resolved."

Secret transactions

Dispatch also obtained L's KakaoTalk messages from 2022 to 2024, showing arrangements for paid sex.

Mr. D is the head of a well-known investment firm and is known as a philanthropist, having donated more than 2 billion won to universities, hospitals, and organizations.

He also gave money to L. In August last year, they had dinner at a Japanese restaurant, taking a selfie together.

The next morning at 6 AM, L texted from a hotel: "Remember to send me the allowance." D replied, "ㅋㅋ Got it," and transferred 2 million won.

Mr. E is a lawyer at a prominent law firm, specializing in capital markets and supporting major domestic and international M&A deals.

E, too, met L at Korea House. After that, he became a "regular," arranging hotel meetings via KakaoTalk.

In addition, L entertained many others: Chairman F of an F&B company, Chairman G of a Pocheon golf course, CEO H of a small business, Vice Chairman I of a mid-sized construction company, and Chairman J, a second-generation chaebol.

Korea House was registered as a general restaurant — it should have only served barbecue. But it provided women for VIPs, effectively operating as an illegal hostess bar.

At the restaurant, women like L received 200,000 won per table. Fees for second and third rounds were negotiated individually.

Korea House has since closed due to the whistleblower's illegal business report. The owner was punished, but the VIP customers continue to wield influence in society.