Although it has been over a decade since singer Jang Yoon Jeong reportedly cut ties with her mother, her painful family history has resurfaced due to new fraud allegations involving her mother.

On the episode of JTBC's "Crime Chief" that aired on the 30th of last month, allegations were raised that Jang Yoon Jeong's mother, surnamed Yook, had committed investment fraud against an acquaintance by using her daughter's name.

According to the broadcast, a woman in her 60s, identified as A, met Yook at a sauna about two years ago and became close with her. A claimed that Yook told her, "I have already reconciled with Jang Yoon Jeong and we are on good terms," and showed her messenger conversations and text messages that appeared to be between herself and Jang Yoon Jeong. Trusting these claims, A invested 30 million KRW with Yook. However, after failing to receive the principal or any returns, A filed a complaint against Yook in April.

The conflict between Jang Yoon Jeong and her mother first became public in 2013, ahead of the singer's marriage. At the time, Jang Yoon Jeong confessed on the SBS program "Healing Camp" that she discovered that most of the wealth she had earned throughout her long career had disappeared while her mother was managing her bank accounts, and that she was instead left with debts amounting to over 1 billion KRW.

Subsequently, Jang Yoon Jeong filed a lawsuit against her younger brother for the return of borrowed funds and won a partial victory, ultimately recovering 320 million KRW. At the time, her mother and brother denied the allegations of squandering her wealth through various broadcasts, but it was reported that Jang Yoon Jeong had effectively cut ties with both of them.

Back then, Jang Yoon Jeong's mother made unverified claims to the media, such as "I have never squandered my daughter's money" and "She tried to lock me up in a mental hospital," while also contacting fellow celebrities who had ties to Jang Yoon Jeong, causing the singer significant distress. However, as media outlets and Jang Yoon Jeong's associates maintained a policy of non-response, Yook eventually stopped providing tips about her daughter.

In 2018, Yook was convicted of fraud for borrowing hundreds of millions of KRW from an acquaintance and failing to repay it, for which she received a prison sentence. It was later revealed that she was released on parole in December of that same year to receive treatment after being diagnosed with terminal liver cancer.

Despite the news of Yook being sued for fraud becoming public, Jang Yoon Jeong, who has remained silent on matters regarding her mother for a long time, has refrained from responding directly. Her agency maintained a cautious stance, stating, "We understand that our position was sufficiently conveyed through 'Crime Chief'."

Photo = Reporter Baek Seung-cheol

kykang@sbs.co.kr 

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)