[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kang Juhee] Elin, a former member of the girl group Crayon Pop who caused controversy over a 'romance scam,' has resumed her activities in South Korea.
A 'romance scam' refers to a fraud method where someone approaches multiple strangers of the opposite sex through SNS or mobile applications, builds a relationship, and then demands money from the other party.
On the 1st, Elin held a live broadcast on her AfreecaTV channel to clarify several suspicions and greet her fans.
First, Elin shared an update on her recent status. She said, "I rested at home for about 1 to 2 months, and from January, I started attending an academy again and began broadcasting on the Chinese version of AfreecaTV. I am personally learning some things and preparing for something." She added, "My return to AfreecaTV broadcasting was later than I expected. I took a break for three months and had a lot of time to think. This is the longest break I have ever taken. It was a period for making a resolution in my heart."
Elin continued, "If there is something I am grateful for, it is that after the controversy, I received many messages from people. I felt both sorry and thankful." She officially confirmed her comeback, saying, "This is a full return. It might be difficult to broadcast every day like before. I will do it with a new mindset and the attitude of a newcomer."
She also addressed questions about whether she planned her comeback after posting a video of herself doing the 'Any Song' challenge with BJ Bogyeom on SNS, saying, "No, I was considering the timing of my comeback, but it kept getting postponed. BJ Bogyeom did not know when I was coming back."
Along with this, Elin explained her entry into the Chinese version of AfreecaTV, 'Douyu.' When some viewers suspected that she moved to the Chinese platform because of the 'romance scam' controversy, Elin said, "I was planning to start broadcasting (on the Chinese platform) a bit later. This has been in the works since last year, but because I took a three-month break, it was moved up." She added, "Some fans misunderstand that I went to China completely, but that is not true. It has nothing to do with the 'romance scam' controversy."
Regarding the 'romance scam' controversy, Elin stated, "It has been resolved amicably. I hope people will no longer mention that part."
Additionally, when asked about Crayon Pop's appearance on KBS2's 'The Return of Superman,' Elin explained, "I did not appear on 'The Return of Superman' because I did not want to cause any harm."
Finally, Elin said, "I have plans for the future that I am envisioning. I intend to carry them out step by step."
In November of last year, Mr. A, who watched Elin's broadcast, claimed that he was a victim of a 'romance scam' involving about 1 billion KRW by Elin. Elin initially denied the 'romance scam' allegations but later admitted her fault and apologized.
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