"I Graduated from Seoul National University and Worked in Daechi-dong"... Trusted Like Everyone Else, Then Betrayed

At Least Five Confirmed Victims
Losses Range from Hundreds of Thousands to Over Ten Million Won

The photo is not related to the article content.

With the 2026 College Scholastic Ability Test scheduled for November, a "tutoring scam" involving tens of millions of won has occurred, targeting college entrance exam students. At least five victims have been confirmed, with losses ranging from several hundred thousand won to over 10 million won. On September 11, Yonhap News reported that the police have launched an investigation after a suspect received advance payments for tutoring and then disappeared.

The incident began when a person identified as A, who claimed to have graduated from Seoul National University and worked at a well-known entrance exam academy in Daechi-dong, recruited students for private math tutoring through S, an online entrance exam community with around 3.2 million members. A built rapport with students over one or two months through in-person or online classes, then offered a discount for advance payment, received the tuition upfront, and subsequently vanished.

The case came to light after a victim posted about their experience in the S community, leading others who had suffered similar losses from A to come forward. The post stated, "There were columns, and with the Seoul National University and major Daechi academy background, I trusted A and paid for a month in advance. After the first class, A requested advance payment for the next month, promising a discount. It was my first time arranging tutoring for a high school senior, but A said, 'Everyone pays in advance at the end,' so I trusted A and paid. The next day, A demanded advance payment for all classes until the exam, which I refused."

Victims Report to Police and Seek Legal Action... "High Likelihood of Fraud"

Parent B, whose child is a high school senior, told Yonhap News, "The amount I prepaid to A and have not recovered is 11.92 million won," adding, "I reported it to the police on September 2." B explained, "I was looking for a tutor for my child, whose grades had suddenly dropped, and contacted A after seeing a post in the S community. The in-person lessons began on May 12, and since A claimed to have many students and needed to finalize the schedule, A first requested advance payment on May 24."

On the 3rd, high school seniors in Seoul are preparing for the mock evaluation of the 2026 College Scholastic Ability Test. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article.

B continued, "Initially, the hourly rate was 70,000 won, but A lowered it to 60,000 won and requested advance payment, then again reduced it to 50,000 won, asking for summer break supplementary class fees in advance. Although I was somewhat suspicious, math is an important subject and my child was satisfied. Trusting A's reputation as a Seoul National University graduate and instructor at a major academy, I paid as requested." B added, "By early July, I had already paid through November, and perhaps because there was nothing more to collect, A began canceling classes. When I requested a refund, A said they would get back to me, but then cut off all contact." B also said, "I hope the police recognize the seriousness of this, as there may be more victims."

Another victim, C, stated that after A conducted 14 online classes with their high school senior child from May for two months, they prepaid 2.46 million won for 20 additional sessions, but lost contact with A after August 10. C explained, "Around mid-June, just a month after starting, A said that due to scheduling issues, if we prepaid the 50,000 won per hour fee, it would be reduced to 40,000 won, and requested advance payment."

This is a scene from an academy district in downtown Seoul, unrelated to the article content.

Meanwhile, this is not the first case where victims have suffered losses after being asked to prepay for tutoring. In May of this year, a remote tutoring platform suddenly announced its closure, leaving hundreds of parents and instructors affected. The parents filed criminal complaints against the platform's CEO for fraud and other charges. According to the complaint, about 340 parents were affected, with total damages estimated to exceed 1 billion won. The instructors also suffered significant losses, with around 300 instructors not receiving their salaries for April and May, amounting to approximately 150 million won in unpaid wages.