The upcoming May 23 episode, titled “The Fallen Dream, Penthouse – The 15 Billion Won Fraud Case Against a Wealthy Family,” delves into the case.
At a prestigious private elementary school in Seoul — known for being attended by the children of celebrities and chaebol families — one woman became something of a legend among parents. In 2019, a parent surnamed Moon (alias) reportedly donated an astonishing 2 billion won toward the school’s remodeling costs.
Moon was always dressed head-to-toe in luxury brands and expensive accessories, living lavishly in ultra-expensive homes worth billions of won and driving imported luxury cars. She wielded enormous influence among parents, even successfully getting both of her children elected in the fiercely competitive student council president elections. After graduation, her children went on to prestigious schools in the United States, making her life appear to be the very image of elite upper-class success.
However, shocking news broke this past February: Moon and her husband were arrested on fraud charges. Investigators later discovered that the luxurious lifestyle they flaunted — including the 2 billion won donated to the school — had all been funded through money obtained by fraud.
The victims were another couple from the same private elementary school community, themselves members of a wealthy family. The confirmed damages so far amount to an astonishing 15 billion won.
The female victim, identified as Lee (alias), was known as the daughter-in-law of a wealthy family and as a humble, active grade representative among parents. But one day in 2019, she appeared at school looking completely transformed and unusually extravagant before suddenly disappearing from public view. How did Lee and her husband become so completely entangled with Moon that they lost their enormous fortune?
At the center of the case was a shaman named “Jo Mal-rye,” whom Moon had introduced to the victim couple. Said to live in the United States and secretly provide fortune readings only for Korea’s elite class, Jo’s true identity and relationship with Moon have become major points of mystery.
Even more puzzling was the behavior of Kang (alias), Lee’s husband and the CEO of a home appliance company. It was revealed that Kang had actually lived in Moon’s home for six years — right up until her arrest. Why would a fraud victim remain by the perpetrator’s side and continue such a bizarre cohabitation arrangement?
The truth behind Moon’s shocking fraud scheme and the bizarre mystery that shook high society will be revealed on the May 23 broadcast of "Unanswered Questions", airing Saturday at 11:10 p.m.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)