Prosecutors clear agency head of charges in celebrity eavesdropping suit

SEOUL, April 16 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors on Thursday dropped charges against the chief of one of South Korea's largest entertainment agencies who was booked for allegedly replicating a cell phone of a client actress to track her phone calls and text messages.

The agency, Sidus HQ, was investigated for allegedly hiring an outside expert to
access phone records and messages of actress Jeong Ji-hyun, 27, in late November
2007, shortly before her contract with the company was to expire.
Three Sidus officials, including chief executive Chung Hoon-tak, were under
investigation for eavesdropping on Jeon, who signed with Sidus while still in
high school more than 10 years ago.
The outside expert who helped copy and rig Jeon's handset was given a one-year
jail sentence last month.
"We cleared charges against Chung due to a lack evidence that he colluded with
those who actually participated in replicating Jeon's phone," an official at the
Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office said.
Jeon boasts enormous star power in South Korea and has earned popularity
throughout Asia as a commercial model for popular brands such as Coca Cola.
The controversy surrounding her management company raised not only ethical
questions about invasion of privacy but the agency's excessive control over
emerging celebrities through unfair, long-term contracts.
Counter to expectations, Jeon renewed her contract with Sidus HQ last month,
citing strong "trust and loyalty" formed with the agency.