Seoul District Prosecutors Office announced Sunday that a television producer for a major broadcasting station was suspected of having had forced sexual relations with an aspiring entertainer. It said the man in question had gone into hiding and so had been put on the wanted list. Prosecutors are also on the trail of another television producer who forced women wanting to cast in TV shows to have sexual relations with him.

Currently four female actresses are being questioned, however, prosecutors said they had no evidence to how widespread the practice was.

The prosecution added that it was tracing the financial transactions of three entertainment management companies, where the owner or main stockholders had gangster backgrounds. One of these companies, which manages many famous celebrities, has alleged dubious funding, said prosecutors. They are also looking into the production processes of a few films, which are suspected to be funded by gangsters.

Prosecutors also revealed that Seo Se-won recently concealed his company ledger and funds at a new house he recently bought in Gangnam. Last month, prosecutors arrested 14 people who were suspected of receiving money under the table, including three MBC producers, executive members at a cable TV company, and owners of management companies. Prosecutors said they are advising Lee Su-man and Seo Se-won, through their families and lawyers, to return to the country. Lee and Seo have been in hiding overseas ever since the investigation was launched.

(Ahn Seok-bae, sbahn@chosun.com )