In a recent development, the father of Jeon Cheong-jo, who gained public attention as the fiancée of fencing star Nam Hyun-hee, has been arrested and prosecuted for orchestrating a fraudulent scheme amounting to 1.6 billion Korean won (approximately 1.4 million USD). Jeon Cheong-jo's father, Jeon Chang-su, aged 61, has been taken into custody by the Cheonan District Prosecutor's Office on charges of violating the law on specific economic crimes and aggravated punishment (fraud).
According to reports from News1 on January 4th, the Cheonan District Prosecutor's Office, through its second criminal division led by Chief Prosecutor Choi Yong-rak, has forwarded the case of Jeon to trial, seeking to impose a stringent penalty for the alleged fraud.
The charges against Jeon Chang-su stem from a real estate transaction in 2018, where he reportedly intercepted a total of 1.61 billion won from the victim during the mediation process of a land sale contract. Following the revelation of his actions, Jeon eluded authorities for over five years before being apprehended by the police last year.
Jeon Chang-su's escape came to an end on December 25th, 2023, when he unlawfully entered an employment agency in Beolgyo-eup, Boseong, South Jeolla Province, stealing a mobile phone before attempting to flee. The police promptly arrested him, and the Cheonan Seo-buk Police Station took custody of Jeon, subsequently requesting a detention warrant. The court granted the warrant on December 27th, citing concerns over the risk of further flight.
A spokesperson for the prosecution commented, "Following the extradition, we conducted a swift investigation and secured additional statements from victims to clarify the charges." The spokesperson added, "We are fully committed to ensuring that appropriate punishment is meted out for the crimes through diligent prosecution."
It's noteworthy that Jeon Cheong-jo's daughter, Jeon Cheong-jo, aged 28, had previously garnered public attention as the fiancée of fencing star Nam Hyun-hee. She is currently facing trial on charges related to investment fraud. The legal proceedings for both father and daughter are expected to unfold in the coming months.