Former T-ara Idol Sentenced Again: Fraud Charges Following Child Abuse Conviction

Lee Ah-reum, a former member of the girl group T-ara, has been sentenced to prison with probation after being found guilty of defrauding fans and acquaintances out of tens of millions of Korean won.

On April 15, the Ansan Branch of Suwon District Court sentenced Lee to six months in prison, suspended for two years, for fraud. Victims began filing complaints in March through May of last year, alleging that Lee borrowed money under the pretense of personal difficulties involving her boyfriend, then failed to repay it. The total amount cited by the plaintiffs was approximately 37 million KRW (about $27,000 USD).

Lee initially denied the allegations, claiming her account had been hacked. However, during the police investigation, she admitted to acting alone.

This case adds to a string of legal troubles involving the former idol. Lee was previously indicted without detention on separate charges of child abduction and defamation. In an earlier case, the same court sentenced her to eight months in prison with a two-year probation period for child abuse and defamation. She was also ordered to complete 40 hours of child abuse prevention education.

Lee had accused her ex-husband of abusing their children during their marriage. In response, her ex-husband filed a criminal complaint in February 2023 against Lee and her mother for violating the Child Welfare Act (including abuse and neglect) and for abducting a minor.

As a result, in January of this year, Lee was sentenced to eight months in prison with a two-year probation for child abduction and violating the Information and Communications Network Act (defamation). Her mother also received a four-month prison sentence with one year of probation in the same court.

Lee Ah-reum joined T-ara in 2012 but left the group the following year. In 2019, she married an older businessman and had two sons. The couple divorced in 2023. She has since remarried, gave birth to her third child in October of last year, and is currently reported to be pregnant with her fourth.

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