A Single Candle Costs 1.65 Million Won
Chinese Authorities Indict Influencer
"Love returns and money follows"
A Chinese influencer who made a fortune by selling the so-called "Wish Candle," which claims to bring back lost lovers and increase wealth, has been put on trial for fraud. However, even after his arrest, related products continue to be popular on social media platforms.
According to the South China Morning Post on the 26th (local time), Chinese influencer Li Zhuofan, 29, was indicted on charges of amassing a large sum of money by selling "Wish Candles." Eight employees from his company were also brought to trial alongside him.
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Li became well-known after appearing on the Russian reality show "Battle of the Psychics" in 2019. He gained attention on the program by claiming to locate a person in a car trunk using candlelight and to sense that a fatal incident had occurred in another vehicle. Afterward, he built a reputation as a "fortune teller" on Chinese social media, gaining around 600,000 followers.
Subsequently, he began selling handmade "Wish Candles" in China online, which were infused with essential oils and decorated with crystals and dried flowers. He promoted each candle as having different effects, such as "bringing back an ex-lover" or "increasing wealth," and offered personalized recommendations for consumers.
The price started at 2,888 yuan (approximately 810,000 won), with some products containing three types of luck selling for as much as 7,888 yuan (about 1.65 million won). He also sold online fortune-telling courses separately.
However, an investigation was launched after a self-employed individual reported to the police that a 5,888 yuan candle purchased in hopes of boosting store sales had no effect. Li was arrested in 2024 on fraud charges, and prosecutors believe he accumulated over 50 million yuan (about 10.5 billion won) through candle and fortune-telling course sales. Under Chinese law, large-scale fraud can result in more than 10 years in prison, along with fines and confiscation of assets.
Despite this, related products remain popular online. Some users have claimed, "After lighting a love candle, my ex-boyfriend contacted me again," while posts predicting a spouse's infidelity by interpreting the candle flame's movement have also been shared.
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The outlet analyzed this phenomenon as a reflection of the growing "spiritual economy" in China, intertwined with the popularity of crystals and tarot reading. Products targeting young people seeking psychological comfort amid competition and uncertainty are rapidly consumed via live streaming and social media platforms.
This trend is also familiar in Korea. Online fortune and tarot consultation services, as well as fortune-telling apps, continue to gain popularity. On some platforms, AI-powered fortune interpretation and compatibility analysis content are also spreading. During year-end, college entrance exam seasons, or job-hunting periods, related searches and the demand for consultations repeatedly surge.
Experts advise that while seeking comfort is understandable, it is important to be cautious about relying excessively on fortune-telling for significant decision-making. Online, responses are divided between skepticism, such as "It's hard to believe in its effectiveness," and acceptance, like "Even without scientific basis, it brings peace of mind."
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