A woman has reportedly lost approximately 500 million won (about $350,000) after falling victim to a romance scam carried out by a criminal group impersonating South Korean actor Lee Jung-jae, according to a report by JTBC. Lee’s management agency has vowed to pursue strong legal action in response.
Artist Company, the actor’s agency, released an official statement on Wednesday via its social media accounts, confirming that “a crime involving the impersonation of our artist for financial gain has been reported in the media.”
“We want to make it absolutely clear that neither our company nor any of our artists will ever request money, wire transfers, or sponsorships under any circumstances,” the statement read. “If you receive such requests, please do not respond and exercise caution to avoid becoming a victim of fraud.”
The agency added that it is cooperating with law enforcement to verify the facts and will take firm measures to protect both the actor and his fans. “We will continue to do our utmost to promote a safe and healthy fan culture,” the statement concluded.
According to JTBC, the scammers initially contacted the victim while pretending to be Lee communicating with fans. To appear credible, they shared AI-generated photos of the actor and a fake driver’s license. They claimed Lee was busy filming “Squid Game 3” and gradually built a personal connection with the victim, eventually moving their conversations to KakaoTalk.
Believing she was in a genuine romantic relationship, the woman made multiple transfers after being told she would soon meet the actor in person. The scammers used affectionate terms such as “honey” and “darling” to maintain the illusion. Over six months, she sent a total of 500 million won, beginning with an initial transfer of 6 million won.
The Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency is currently investigating the case and examining potential links to an organized crime syndicate based in Cambodia.
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