Pilates Instructor Yang Jung-won Faces Police Investigation Amid Fraud Allegations

Yang Jung-won, a renowned Pilates instructor and TV personality known as one of the top beauties from Sunhwa Arts High School, is set to appear for police questioning in connection with a fraud case.

According to police reports on the 29th, Yang Jung-won will attend a confrontation investigation at the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul. The police plan to summon Yang and other involved parties, including the head of a Pilates franchise, to clarify conflicting testimonies. A confrontation investigation is a procedure where the complainant and the accused are brought face-to-face to assess the credibility of their statements.

Yang was sued in 2024 by franchise owners of a Pilates academy on charges of fraud. Allegations were made that the headquarters promised to dispatch instructors directly employed by them to provide operational know-how to the franchises but failed to do so. There were also suspicions of selling Pilates equipment at inflated prices.

Yang has denied these claims, stating, "I only had a modeling contract with the academy and was not involved in the franchise operations." The police initially cleared her of charges, but the case took a new turn when suspicions arose that Yang's husband, Mr. A, used his connections with police officials to influence the investigation.

Prosecutors suspect Mr. A of leveraging his relationship with a police superintendent, Mr. B, to contact the head of the Gangnam investigation team, Mr. C, in an attempt to quash the case. Both Mr. B and Mr. C have been suspended, and Mr. A has been arrested. Mr. A is also reportedly involved in stock manipulation schemes with securities firm executives and business figures.

Yang Jung-won apologized, saying, "I am sorry for causing concern with the recent unfortunate events involving me and my husband." She added, "I am not fully aware of my husband's specific actions regarding the police investigation of the dispute. However, I will cooperate fully with the police investigation and actively clarify any misunderstandings."

Yang married Mr. A in May 2023 and welcomed a son in December of the same year.

Lee So-jung, Ten Asia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr