Singer Jang Yun-jeong's mother untraceable as investment fraud probe halted

The mother of singer Jang Yun-jeong is under investigation on suspicion of investment fraud carried out in her daughter's name, but police have suspended the case after losing all trace of her whereabouts.

JTBC's crime affairs program "Sageon Banjang" reported June 30 on the fraud allegations against Jang's biological mother, surnamed Yuk.

Yuk allegedly deceived victims into handing over tens of millions of won by claiming they could profit from investing in TV Chosun's singing competition "Miss Trot." To gain their trust, she fabricated KakaoTalk messages and other materials to make it appear Jang was personally involved.

One victim filed a complaint with police against Yuk in April. At least one other person who claims to have been defrauded by the same method has also filed a complaint against her.

However, police have suspended the investigation after being unable to confirm any signs of activity from Yuk — she has not used her mobile phone or bank cards, and her location is unknown.

Attorney Park Ji-hoon said there was a possibility Yuk had died, but added that she may simply be avoiding using her registered identity. "That's not easy to do — she can't stay completely off the grid," he said. "This seems urgent. If anyone knows her whereabouts, please report it to police immediately."

Jang's agency said she had "absolutely not been in direct contact with her mother for decades" and had refrained from commenting on matters related to her, but was now speaking out out of concern that further victims could emerge.

Jang publicly announced she was cutting ties with Yuk more than a decade ago. In 2013, she said that after settling her finances she discovered all the money she had earned over 10 years had disappeared, and that she had been left with roughly 1 billion won ($646,000) in debt because of Yuk and her younger brother. Yuk and the brother subsequently held a press conference raising various allegations against Jang and filed a lawsuit claiming ownership over her income. The court rejected Yuk's claims, and Jang won a partial victory in a separate suit she filed against her brother seeking the return of funds.

Yuk was also arrested on fraud charges in 2018 after borrowing a total of 415 million won from acquaintances between 2015 and 2017 and failing to repay them.

Online commenters reacted with sympathy for the singer. "No wonder she cut ties," wrote one user. Others said, "What is she doing with such a successful daughter?" and "I feel so sorry for Jang Yun-jeong."