Former South Korean fencing champion Nam Hyun-hee, 43, has been cleared of allegations linking her to a fraud case involving her ex-partner, Jeon Cheong-jo, 28, after two years of legal battles.
Nam's legal representative, Attorney Son Soo-ho from the law firm Ji-hyuk, announced on Facebook on the 13th, "We have won the case," stating that Nam was victorious in a lawsuit filed by a plaintiff who claimed to have been defrauded by Jeon Cheong-jo for a substantial amount of money. The lawsuit sought damages of approximately 11 billion won (around $9.3 million USD) against Nam. "We have worked tirelessly for the past 1 year and 10 months to clear her name," Son added.
The plaintiff, identified as A, a parent at Nam's fencing academy, was persuaded by Jeon to invest in unlisted stocks with promises of high monthly returns and a guarantee of the principal after a year. From April to July 2023, A transferred around 11 billion won in six installments. When Jeon's fraudulent activities were exposed, A filed a lawsuit against Nam, accusing her of being complicit.
On the 12th, the Suwon District Court's Seongnam Branch Civil Division 3 dismissed the plaintiff's claims. The court concluded that Nam, like the plaintiff, was deceived by Jeon's lies and believed him to be a third-generation chaebol heir. The ruling exonerates Nam from being labeled as Jeon's accomplice.
In June of last year, Nam was expelled from the Seoul Fencing Association and subsequently received a seven-year suspension from coaching by the Seoul Sports Council's Fair Sports Committee in August. This suspension prohibits her from coaching activities from August 22, 2024, to August 21, 2031. Nam's team expressed hope that the ruling would correct misconceptions and mark a new beginning.
Jeon Cheong-jo is accused of defrauding 27 individuals of over 30 billion won (approximately $25.4 million USD) by posing as an illegitimate child of a conglomerate family. He was sentenced to 13 years in prison in November last year under charges of aggravated fraud under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes.
Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr