Korea’s financial regulator has launched an unprecedented probe into allegations of stock manipulation involving employees of Maeil Business TV, marking the first case initiated directly by its special judicial police. According to financial investment industry sources, the Financial Supervisory Service’s (FSS) Capital Markets Special Judicial Police, conducted a search and seizure on the broadcaster’s headquarters in Seoul, Wednesday, securing relevant materials. Authorities suspect that three individuals — a producer, a program host and a guest contributor — purchased stocks using nonpublic information obtained through their work. They are believed to have promoted the same stocks on air, driving up prices before selling them for profit. The FSS estimates the illicit gains exceeded 1 billion won ($720,000). The case is notable as the first investigation launched independently by the FSS without a prior referral from the Securities and Futures Commission. The move follows expanded authority granted to the agency earlier this year, allowing it to initiate probes directly when