Downfall of a Former Seoul City Councillor and ‘Laughter Therapy Practitioner’: Allegedly Vanishes After Borrowing Billions

It’s a bitter irony. A person whose job was to bring laughter to the world has allegedly left citizens in tears and vanished without a trace. An individual who worked as an entertainer and laughter therapy practitioner before serving as a member of the 9th Seoul Metropolitan Council has been booked by police on suspicion of massive fraud. But this case goes far beyond simply borrowing money and failing to repay it.

Dozens of Victims, Losses Exceeding 1 Billion Won

According to police on the 18th, the Seoul Seodaemun Police Station has booked former city councillor, identified as Mr./Ms. A, on fraud charges and is investigating. Mr./Ms. A is accused of approaching local residents and district office officials in the Seodaemun-gu area since last year, borrowing money, and then not repaying it. The scale is the real issue. The confirmed victims already number in the dozens, and the total amount is known to easily exceed 1 billion won, sending shockwaves through the local community.

The Two Faces of a 'Laughter Therapist'

Mr./Ms. A is not just a former city councillor. She is also a former KBS public recruitment comedian who got her start in broadcasting. Later, she worked as a kindergarten teacher before obtaining certifications as a laughter therapy practitioner and recreation instructor, actively working in various fields. Here’s a brief timeline of her career:

• Late 1980s: Debuted as a KBS public recruitment comedian, active in broadcasting.
• Early 2000s: Switched careers to become a kindergarten teacher, working in education.
• Around 2010: Obtained certifications as a Laughter Therapy Practitioner and Recreation Instructor, began lecturing.
• 2014: Elected as a member of the 9th Seoul Metropolitan Council, entering politics.
• March 2026: Comes under police investigation for alleged fraud involving billions of won.

In the memories of local residents, she was a cheerful person. In fact, when she ran for the Seoul city council in 2014, her slogan was "A world where hardworking people live with smiles." In an interview at the time, she expressed her unique ambition, saying, "Just as a comedian's job is to make the audience laugh, politics is about sacrifice and service for the residents." Her background and articulate nature were enough to earn the trust of constituents in her district.

The Community Feels Betrayed

Now, that same person has seemingly "gone to ground," with even her former constituents unable to reach her. It is reported that many of the victims are acquaintances she made while serving as a city councillor and during her time lecturing as a laughter therapy practitioner.

One resident of Seodaemun-gu expressed her outrage, saying, "I never suspected anything because of the image she had built up over the years." "How could someone who makes people laugh do something like this?" she added. This incident will be remembered as more than just a financial matter; it represents a major breach of trust within the local community.

The Seodaemun Police Station is currently working to confirm the exact nature of the charges against Mr./Ms. A and to identify any additional victims. Police plan to summon Mr./Ms. A for questioning soon regarding the allegations, but her whereabouts have not yet been confirmed.

A talent for making people laugh and passion for community development are commendable. However, exploiting that trust to stab your neighbours in the back is inexcusable for any reason. It remains to be seen how the police investigation will conclude this bitter saga left behind by a former city councillor who once sold 'laughter'.