16-Year Prison Sentence in First Trial Reduced on Appeal
Fraud and Assault Charges Against Nam Hyun-hee's Nephew Combined
Jeon Cheong-jo (28), who impersonated an illegitimate child of a chaebol family and carried out a fraud scheme worth around 3 billion KRW, has been sentenced to 13 years in prison.
According to the legal community on the 30th, both Jeon and the prosecution did not submit appeals by the deadline of the 28th, confirming the appellate court's ruling. In criminal trials, to receive a higher court's judgment, an appeal or a further appeal must be filed within 7 days from the date of sentencing.
Jeon Cheong-jo, whose 13-year prison sentence was finalized after waiving the right to appeal. Photo by Yonhap News.
On the 21st, the Seoul High Court Criminal Division 13 (Presiding Judges Baek Gang-jin, Kim Seon-hee, Lee In-su) sentenced Jeon, who was indicted on charges including fraud under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes, to 13 years in prison. The court also ordered the confiscation of a Bentley gifted to Jeon's ex-girlfriend, former national fencing athlete Nam Hyun-hee, and ordered compensation of approximately 1.13 billion KRW to the victims. The court additionally mandated Jeon to complete 40 hours of a child abuse prevention program. Jeon was originally sentenced to 16 years in the first trial, but the sentence was reduced by 3 years on appeal.
The court stated, "The defendant admits all charges and expresses remorse, promising to become a responsible member of society after release," but also pointed out, "Despite repeatedly committing fraud, receiving prison sentences, and fines, and being paroled, he immediately committed marriage fraud, impersonated men to date celebrities, pretended to be wealthy, and forged official documents such as resident registration cards, showing poor criminal character." The court cited as reasons for sentencing, "There are 35 victims, with damages exceeding 3.5 billion KRW," the irreparability of the damage, the fact that the crimes were committed during the recidivism period, and the commission of multiple similar offenses.
Jeon was tried for embezzling about 3 billion KRW from 27 people he met through lectures and other events from April 2022 to October last year under the pretext of investment funds, and was sentenced to 12 years in prison in the first trial in February. Separately, he was also indicted for violating the Child Welfare Act by assaulting Nam's middle school nephew and was sentenced to an additional 4 years in prison by the Seoul Eastern District Court in September. The appellate court merged the two cases for trial at Jeon's request.
Meanwhile, Lee Mo (27), former head of security who was indicted alongside Jeon, was sentenced to 2 years in prison, a heavier sentence than in the first trial. Lee is accused of acting as Jeon's bodyguard, providing his name for renting luxury residences and foreign cars, managing the proceeds of the fraud, and sharing part of the profits. Lee was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in the first trial, but his sentence was increased on appeal. Lee submitted an appeal on the 26th.
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