In one of Korea’s most shocking celebrity fraud cases, Lee Minwoo, member of legendary K-pop group Shinhwa, was defrauded of nearly ₩2.6 billion KRW (~$1.9 million USD) by a longtime friend, referred to as Mr. B, a TV producer.
In 2019, Minwoo faced sexual harassment allegations involving two women in their 20s. While under investigation, Mr. B offered to “help clear his name,” claiming close ties with senior prosecutors and promising to secure a not guilty verdict through bribes.
Desperate to protect his reputation, Minwoo paid him ₩1.6 billion KRW (~$1.2 million USD). However, prosecutors later revealed that Mr. B had no such connections and pocketed the money for himself.
Even after Minwoo was officially acquitted based on investigative evidence, Mr. B returned with another lie that prosecutors were planning to appeal the verdict, demanding an additional ₩1 billion KRW (~$740,000) to “settle” the case.
This brought the total scam amount to ₩2.6 billion KRW.
When the deception was uncovered, Minwoo filed a lawsuit against his friend of 20 years. During trial, Mr. B showed no remorse, denying all allegations.
The Seoul Southern District Court sentenced him to 9 years in prison and ordered full restitution of the stolen funds. However, Mr. B appealed the verdict, maintaining his innocence.
The psychological toll on Minwoo was devastating. In a personal statement, he revealed suffering from severe trauma and post-stress disorder, including insomnia, stuttering, and panic attacks.
“He mentally controlled me. He said, ‘If I want you to crawl, you must crawl. If I want you to die, you must die.’ When I couldn’t pay, he made me take out bank loans and handed over my savings and seal stamp. One night, I went to the Han River to end my life. But I came to my senses before it was too late.”
Minwoo said he eventually found strength through family, fellow Shinhwa members, and friends in the industry, who helped him recover from the trauma.
Now 46 years old, the singer has regained stability and plans to return to entertainment through new projects. Known for his dual career as a singer and actor, Minwoo debuted in 1998 with Shinhwa, launched his solo career in 2003, and appeared in TV hits like Nonstop 5 and Haeng Jin.
Sources: Kenh14,Naver News,KoreaBoo
You must be logged in to post a comment.