Former Seoul City Council member and ‘Laughter Therapist’ accused of massive fraud, allegedly goes into hiding after borrowing billions

It’s a rather ironic twist of fate. A person who once made a living by bringing laughter to the world is now accused of bringing her community to tears before vanishing. A former member of the 9th Seoul City Council, who also worked as a broadcaster and laughter therapist, has been booked by police on suspicion of a massive fraud. But this case goes beyond simply borrowing money and not paying it back.

Dozens of victims, losses estimated at over KRW 1 billion

According to police on the 18th, the Seoul Seodaemun Police Station has booked the former council member, identified as Mr. A, on fraud charges and is investigating. Mr. A is accused of approaching local residents and district office officials in the Seodaemun-gu area since last year, borrowing money from them, and failing to repay it. The sheer scale of the issue is the main problem. It has sent shockwaves through the community, with confirmed victims already numbering in the dozens and the total amount believed to easily exceed KRW 1 billion.

The two faces of a 'Laughter Therapist'

Mr. A is not just a former city council member. She first began her career as a publicly recruited comedian for KBS in the late 1980s. Later, she worked as a kindergarten teacher before obtaining certifications as a laughter therapist and recreation instructor, actively working in various fields. Here’s a quick look at her career timeline:

• Late 1980s: Debuted as a KBS publicly recruited 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 City Council, entering politics.
• March 2026: Comes under police investigation for alleged fraud worth billions of won.

In the memories of local residents, she was a particularly cheerful person. In fact, when she ran for the Seoul City Council in 2014, her slogan was "A world where hardworking people can live and laugh." During an interview back then, she expressed her unique aspirations, 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 eloquence were more than enough to earn the trust of her constituents.

Community reels from sense of betrayal

Now, that same person is reportedly "in hiding," with even her former constituents unable to reach her. It is particularly noted that many of the alleged victims are acquaintances she made while serving as a council member and during her time giving lectures as a laughter therapist.

A resident of Seodaemun-gu voiced their frustration, saying, "Because of the image she had built up over the years, I never suspected a thing." "How could someone who made people laugh do something like this?" This incident is set to be remembered as more than just a financial dispute; it represents a major crack in the community's system of trust.

The Seodaemun Police Station is currently working to confirm the exact nature of the charges against Mr. A and to identify any additional victims. Police plan to summon Mr. A for questioning soon, but his whereabouts have yet to be confirmed.

The talent to make people laugh and the passion for community development are commendable. However, using that trust to stab your neighbours in the back is unacceptable, no matter the reason. It remains to be seen how the police investigation will conclude this bitter chapter left behind by a former council member who once traded in 'laughter'.