By Kim Jae-heun





Popular electric violinist Eugene Park has been allegedly scammed by his manager, suffering losses worth up to 700 million won ($590,000).







Park, who suffers from bipolar disorder, has been "exploited" in the past when his former agency abused him.







According to legal circles, Monday, the Seoul Advocacy Agency for Persons with Disabilities (SAAPD) filed a complaint against Park's current manager surnamed Kim to the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office for charges of fraud, embezzlement and breach of trust.







The agency said Kim borrowed 108 million won from loan sharks under the musician's name and misappropriated Park's performance fees worth 506 million won. Kim also allegedly sold the violinist's real estate at a lower-than-market price, causing economic losses for Park.







Local broadcaster MBC first learned about the problem while filming a television documentary on Park. MBC collected related materials while filming and handed them over to the advocacy center to help them sue Park's manager.







Police are currently investigating the case under the direction of the prosecution.







This is not the first time Park has been targeted by scammers.







The violinist has been suffering from depression and bipolar disorder since he rose to stardom, and his former agency had allegedly taken advantage of his mental health issues and exploited his labor. They also allegedly physically abused Park and confined him a number of times.







After the alleged abuse was made public in 2009, Kim, who had worked with Park during his early heyday in the late 1990s, returned to the musician as his manager. Since his mother died four years ago, Park has relied completely on Kim for work and even his personal life, according to the agency.

