Fraud allegations against singer Jang Yun-jeong's mother multiply as woman goes missing

Fraud allegations against Yuk, the mother of singer Jang Yun-jeong, are widening, with claims ranging from her having gone out of contact to speculation about her death and reports that she solicited money from acquaintances. Police have suspended their investigation into Yuk after finding no signs of activity — no mobile phone usage records or card transaction history — and have been trying to trace her whereabouts.

The fraud allegations against Yuk first came to light through JTBC's "Sageon Banjang," a TV crime-reporting program, which aired June 30.

Yuk had managed Jang's performance fees and other earnings before her marriage, but is reported to have squandered the money and run up 1 billion won ($643,000) in debt under Jang's name. Jang ultimately made a public declaration cutting ties with her mother.

The alleged victim, an acquaintance of Yuk, told "Sageon Banjang" that the two grew close after Yuk offered to share health supplements she said Jang had sent her. "She then told me I could make money by investing in TV Chosun's 'Miss Trot,' which Jang had appeared on," the woman said.

The victim handed over tens of millions of won to Yuk under the guise of investment funds. Yuk allegedly used two mobile phones to fabricate KakaoTalk messages that appeared to come from Jang, deceiving the victim into trusting her.

The victim's daughter grew suspicious and reported Yuk to police, at which point it emerged that another victim had already filed a complaint after being defrauded by the same method.

Jang's agency said in response that she "has had no direct contact with her mother for decades."

Amid the investigation, further allegations against Yuk have surfaced — from claims she solicited money to speculation that she may have died.

One claim holds that Yuk fabricated documents purporting to show she had terminal cancer, used them to solicit money from acquaintances, and pressured them by hinting she might take her own life.

According to the claim, Yuk was still sending Jang fabricated terminal-cancer documents and messages hinting at self-harm as recently as three weeks ago in an attempt to extract money from her.

According to Sports Kyunghyang, a person identified only as A said Yuk sought financial help as recently as April, claiming she would jump off Yanghwa Bridge, only to call back three days later as if nothing had happened. "She sent messages saying she was going to die for about a month, and the stress got so bad I ended up blocking her," A said.

A added that Yuk avoided using her own card and instead used a debit card registered in a man's name. A also said Yuk had been living near Georye Station in Songpa-gu, Seoul, until recently, spending time with people she described as "prison acquaintances."

The possibility that Yuk may have died has also been raised.

According to The Fact, Yuk sent a lengthy message to a reporter on June 18.

Since March, Yuk had been moving between goshiwon rooms and other short-stay lodgings every few days after leaving her previous residence. The last message she is known to have sent came around the time Seoul's Songpa Police Station was questioning her as a fraud suspect.

In that message, Yuk wrote of longing for a stable home and a warm meal she could cook herself, and expressed despair about her circumstances. "I have had more pain, I cry and wander, going back and forth, and living like this, I would rather —" she wrote, in words that appeared to suggest she was contemplating ending her life.

She added, "This will likely be my last message," and said she was sorry for causing so much grief.

Meanwhile, after Jang publicly cut ties with her, Yuk held a press conference with Jang's younger brother and claimed Jang had driven under the influence of alcohol. In 2014, she also filed a lawsuit against Jang's agency, claiming ownership over the money her daughter had earned.

The court ruled against Yuk, saying that even if she had managed Jang's money, that did not give her ownership of it.

A court also ruled partly in Jang's favor in a separate lawsuit she filed against her sibling seeking the return of about 100 million won.

Yuk was later detained on fraud charges after borrowing 415 million won from an acquaintance and failing to repay it.

If you or someone you know is thinking about self-harm or suicide, contact the Ministry of Health and Welfare's helpline at 1393, available 24/7. Please request a translator for English-language services.