T-ara's Areum Booked on 'Fraud' Charges... Police Investigation Underway

Three Complainants Claim Total Damages of 37 Million Won

Police have launched an investigation after multiple complaints were filed alleging that former girl group T-ara member Lee Areum failed to repay money she borrowed.

Former member of the girl group 'T-ara', Lee Areum. [Photo by Areum SNS]

The Gwangmyeong Police Station in Gyeonggi Province announced on the 13th that they are investigating three complaints requesting an investigation into Lee on charges of fraud. The total amount claimed by the three complainants is approximately 37 million won.

The complainants reportedly claim that "Lee borrowed money citing personal reasons involving her boyfriend and has not repaid it to date."

The Gwangmyeong Police Station first received a fraud complaint against Lee in March and has since received two additional complaints transferred from other police stations up until last month, which are currently under investigation.

Last month, Lee and her mother were also sent to the prosecution without detention on charges of neglecting educational duties, including taking a child without parental rights to a daycare without the consent of her ex-husband (charges of abduction of a minor and violation of the Child Welfare Act).

Lee joined the girl group T-ara in 2012 and was active until she left the team in 2013.