Former employees sue Shim

Comedian and directorShim Hyung-rae's company Younggu Art is facing a lawsuit filed by former employees, a government legal body revealed yesterday.

According to Korea Legal Aid Corporation, 43 former employees of Younggu Art have sued Shim's company for unpaid wages and severance payments worth 891.53 million won ($777,000). The lawsuit was filed in the Seoul Southern District Court.

The employees also filed a dividend request from sales of Younggu Art's properties. The building and land of Younggu Art are currently set for auction by the collateral security holder of Shim's company.

The estimated value of those properties is 3.7 billion won and the first auction deadline is set for next Monday.

The 43 former employees of Younggu Art have previously submitted a petition to the Ministry of Employment and Labor on Aug. 1, asking for unpaid wages. The ministry brought Shim in for questioning on Aug. 19.

Meanwhile, Shim, who is the director of "D-War" (2007) and "The Last Godfather" (2010), is also under investigation by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency for remodeling and manufacturing illegal guns. Police said there could be a separate embezzlement investigation next.