The Downfall of a Former Seoul City Councillor and 'Laughter Therapist': Disappears After Borrowing Billions

It's a bitter twist of fate: a woman who built her career on bringing laughter to the world is now accused of leaving citizens in tears after vanishing. A former member of the 9th Seoul Metropolitan Council, who also worked as a broadcaster and laughter therapist, 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 Exceed 1 Billion Won

According to police on the 18th, the Seoul Seodaemun Police Station has booked the former councillor, identified as Ms. A, on fraud charges and is currently investigating. Ms. A is accused of approaching local residents and district office officials in the Seodaemun-gu area since last year, borrowing money from them, and then failing to repay it. The sheer scale of the alleged fraud is the core issue. It has been confirmed that there are dozens of victims, and the total amount involved is understood to exceed a staggering 1 billion Korean won, sending shockwaves through the local community.

The Double Life of a 'Laughter Therapist'

Ms. A is not just a former city councillor. Her background includes starting her career as a publicly recruited comedian for KBS. Later, she worked as a kindergarten teacher before obtaining certifications as a laughter therapist and recreation instructor, leading to active work in various fields. Here is a brief timeline of her career:

• Late 1980s: Debuted as a KBS public recruit comedian, active in broadcasting.
• Early 2000s: Switched careers to become a kindergarten teacher, working in education.
• Around 2010: Obtained certifications as a Laughter Therapist and Recreation Instructor, began giving lectures.
• 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 an exceptionally cheerful person. Indeed, when she ran for the Seoul City Council in 2014, her campaign slogan was "A world where hardworking people can live with a smile." 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 impressive career and eloquence were enough to earn the trust of her constituents.

The Community's Sense of Betrayal

Now, she has reportedly gone into 'hiding', with even her former constituents unable to contact her. It is particularly striking that many of the alleged victims are acquaintances she made during her time as a city councillor and while giving lectures as a laughter therapist.

A resident of Seodaemun-gu expressed their anger, saying, "I never suspected her because of the image she had built up over the years. How could someone who makes people laugh do something like this?" This incident goes beyond a simple financial dispute; it will be remembered as an event that severely damaged the very fabric of trust within the local community.

The Seodaemun Police Station is currently working to determine the exact charges against Ms. A and whether there are additional victims. While police plan to summon her for questioning soon regarding the allegations, 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 swindle one's neighbours is unforgivable, regardless of the reason. It remains to be seen how the police investigation will conclude this bitter chapter left by a former city councillor who once traded in 'laughter'.