T-ara Arum 37 million won fraud → All child abuse are guilty of imprisonment, single crime
Apr 16, 2025
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Lee Ah-reum (31), a former member of girl group T-ara who was accused of stealing tens of millions of won from her fans and other acquaintances, was convicted and sentenced to probation in prison.
It was confirmed that the Suwon District Court's Ansan Branch Criminal Division 9 held a sentencing date for Arum's fraud on the 10th and sentenced Arum to six months in prison and two years of probation.
The case was known as victims filed a series of complaints with the police from March to May last year on charges of fraud against Lee Arum.
At the time, the victims stated that `Lee Ah-reum borrowed money for personal reasons with her boyfriend and has not paid it back until now.' The amount of damage claimed by the complainants is about 37 million won. Lee Ah-reum was found to have denied the allegations as hacking and the work of his boyfriend, but admitted to the charges in a police investigation, saying that he committed a "single crime".
Earlier, Lee Ah-reum was sentenced to eight months in prison and two years of probation on charges of child abuse and defamation. He is accused of emotionally abusing the child by swearing at his ex-husband A in front of his children and defaming the person who disclosed the court ruling related to his ex-boyfriend B on the Internet broadcast.
Regarding Arum's alleged child abuse, the court said "I admit all the charges. It was judged that the victim's legitimate custody should be greatly criticized for causing serious mental damage. Regarding defamation, it is said that there was no intention to "slandish victim A", but it is judged that there was an incomplete intention because there was no effort to confirm the facts of unconventional content. In particular, considering the fact that the remarks were made during the broadcast and the relationship with the victim, it is recognized that there is a purpose of slander," he said. At the same time, the court sentenced his mother C, who was charged with child abuse along with Arum, to one year in prison.
Regarding the sentencing, the court reaffirmed that it did not receive forgiveness from the victim regarding defamation, and regarding child abuse, the execution of the sentence was suspended and sentenced to two years in prison in August, citing the fact that he admitted his wrongdoing, that the victims were handed over to the custody, and that he had no criminal history. The court also ordered Lee Ah-reum to complete a 40-hour lecture on child abuse prevention.
Meanwhile, Lee Ah-reum married an older businessman in 2019 and had two sons, but announced her divorce in 2023. Currently, Lee Ah-reum has remarried with her boyfriend and announced her third birth in November last year. It is now known that she is pregnant with her fourth child. Lee Ah-reum joined the girl group T-ara in 2012 and left the team the following year, 2013.
lyn@sportschosun.com
