Actor Kim Seung-woo faces theft allegations — but his hostess bar visits during COVID draw more fire

Actor Kim Seung-woo, 57, has been sued on allegations of stealing 22 million won ($16,500) from an acquaintance at a drinking gathering, but public criticism has focused less on the theft claim itself and more on the revelation that he frequented hostess bars with female attendants during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to police, the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul is investigating Kim on theft charges. The investigation began after an acquaintance identified only as A filed a complaint against Kim in July.

A claims Kim took 22 million won from a wallet at a hostess bar in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam, Seoul, in October 2021.

Kim acknowledges taking the money but says it was a prank and that he returned it. Kim says he transferred 30 million won to A in 2021 and sent a total of 25 million won in three separate payments between 2023 and 2026.

A disputes this, saying the 30 million won was a 10 percent return on a 300 million won ($225,000) investment and that the 25 million won was repayment of a loan — not the stolen money. Why Kim sent 30 million won and then 25 million won when the alleged theft was only 22 million won remains an unresolved question that police are expected to clarify through their investigation.

Beyond the theft allegations, many online commenters have expressed disappointment over Kim's visits to hostess bars with female attendants.

According to A, the two had been acquainted since around 2019 and were close enough to visit hostess bars together 70 to 80 times over five years starting in 2020. A also claims Kim repeatedly took 300,000 to 1 million won in cash from A's wallet to give as tips to female attendants, prompting A to warn Kim to keep away from the wallet.

Online commenters voiced their dismay, writing that "70 to 80 times over five years means more than once a month," "if that's just how many times he went with A, how many more times did he go with others," "I wonder if things stayed within legal limits," "what was he doing that tips ran as high as 1 million won," and "I feel sorry for his wife, actor Kim Nam-joo."

The timing has also drawn scrutiny, as the visits took place during the COVID-19 pandemic when social distancing measures were in effect, raising questions about whether Kim violated public health guidelines.

The controversy has also revived an earlier incident involving Kim and alcohol. Last September, Kim spontaneously agreed to appear in a filming for JTBC's variety program "Han-kki Hapshyo" in the Samseong-dong area, only to abruptly request that the footage be scrapped. Kim's agency explained that he had joined the shoot in good spirits after having a few drinks with friends before heading home for dinner, and that the agency, upon learning of the drinking after the fact, decided it would be inappropriate to air the segment and asked the production team to discard it.