Former T-ara Member Areum and Her Boyfriend Found Guilty in Fraud Case

Former T-ara member Lee Areum has been handed a suspended prison sentence after being found guilty of stealing tens of millions of won from fans.

On April 10, Areum was sentenced to six months in prison and two years of probation during a hearing held at the Ansan branch of the Suwon District Court.

Her boyfriend Seo Dong Hoon received a prison sentence of 1 year and 6 months for being the mastermind behind the fraud scheme. 

As per reports, they borrowed approximately 44 million KRW (approximately 31,000 USD) from around 10 victims, including T-ara fans, from March to May 2024. They claimed that the money was to pay her child’s bills and her own hospitalization. They only repaid ₩2 million KRW (around 1,400 USD).

Seo Dong Hoon, the mastermind, misused the borrowed money for gambling and personal expenses. The prosecution indicted him while in custody, whereas the former T-ara member was indicted without detention. The total amount involved in the fraud was approximately 46.55 million won, with some of it repaid during the trial.

Some victims have reached a settlement and requested the court to exempt the defendants from punishment. Meanwhile, the remaining victims are gearing up to appeal the verdict.

Meanwhile, Lee Areum received an eight-month prison sentence and 2 years of probation for child abuse and defamation. The charges stemmed from accusations of verbally abusing her ex-husband in front of their children, causing emotional harm, and defaming someone who disclosed court documents about her current partner. 

The Ansan branch of the Suwon District Court delivered the sentence on January 16, 2025, and also ordered Areum to complete 40 hours of child abuse prevention classes.  Her mother was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for one year, for neglecting her grandchildren during the incidents. Lee Areum and her ex-husband married in 2019, had two sons together, and filed for divorce in 2023.