FEMALE stars in Korea have a knack for making headlines for all the wrong reasons.

There have been reports of some going under the plastic surgeon’s knife – think Kim Hee Sun and Gianna Junand their before-and-after photos.

Some have even made news when they were found dead – think Lee Eun Joo, Choi Jin Sil and Jung Da Bin, maythey rest in peace.

Now some dirt has apparently been dug out about several female stars. A South Korean publication has got hold of a list of celebrities who are allegedly moonlighting as kept women.

The list is provided by an industry source who claims that the women earn a hefty sum of money from “providing company and extra services” to wealthy business men who “keep” them.

Newcomers are said to rake in a starting fee of 25 million won ($30,000), while the A-listers can command up to billions.

While the list does not state the names of the stars, there are hints about their identities.

One of them is described as “a Miss L who became famous through a single drama”. Another is said to be “Miss S, a regular face of mini-series”.

Another star is supposedly “a bubbly, lively Miss C, recently seen in a popular family-oriented drama”. According to the report, businessmen can seal their “transactions” with these female celebrities either online or over a private meeting at high-end lounges, where they’d have to pay these women a “drinking fee” of 3 to 5 million won.

Once confirmed as a kept woman, the celebrity must apparently sign a contract which prevents her from divulging the identity of her “owner”.

If the man’s name is revealed, she will have to pay him compensation of up to 3 billion won.

Popular actress Song Yun-Ah, 36, admitted in an interview that she was “once approached to be kept”.

“The offer included accompanying the other party for drinks, as well as providing sexual services,” she said. “It happened in the early years of my acting career.

“Fortunately, I turned the request down.

“I hope my fellow female artistes do not do things they will regret in order to achieve fame and fortune.”

A survey of female celebrities conducted in South Korea last month provided startling results.

A quarter of the stars polled admitted that they “have had intimate body contact with another party against their own will”.

Furthermore, 12 per cent admitted they “had provided sexual services” to get money and more work opportunities in the entertainment industry.

This article was first published in The New Paper.