South Korea investigates fraudster who pretended to be a casino heir and wooed an Olympic athlete.
South Korea is witnessing a captivating narrative involving a female-born individual accused of being a fraudster who was momentarily engaged to one of the country's renowned sportswomen while posing as a man.
Jeon Cheong-jo claimed to be a member of the Paradise Group, a significant player in South Korea's hotel, casino, and leisure industries.
She attracted two-time Olympic fencing medallist Nam Hyun-hee by presenting herself as exceptionally wealthy. Additionally, she reportedly solicited funds for invalid investment options from Nam's friends and family.
Nam and Jeon announced their engagement to South Korean media through a conversation and photoshoot in Woman Chosun, a stylish celebrity magazine, on October 23rd.
During the conversation, Nam declared she had found love once more after splitting from her competitive cyclist husband only a few months prior.
Perplexingly, Nam also maintained that she was pregnant with Jeon's child.
Engagement Unravels
The couple's relationship quickly unraveled when individuals recognized Jeon and told her history of alleged fraud. Law enforcement verified the information, revealing that Jeon has not undergone the legal process that permits changing one's gender in South Korea. Legally, she is a woman.
Moreover, Jeon has a past of defrauding romantic partners both when presenting as a man and as a woman, and she seems to be able to swiftly switch genders.
In 2020, while pretending to be a woman, Jeon is accused of extorting money from her former lover. However, a year prior, she allegedly took $2,200 from a female love interest on Jeju Island while pretending to be a man, according to authorities.
On Thursday, Jeon was detained by the police at the house of Nam's mother in Seongnam, south of Seoul, for stalking charges. The authorities were summoned after Jeon manifested at Nam's house and aggressively struck the door following the dissolution of the relationship.
Miraculous Pregnancy
On Friday, Nam informed South Korean media that the relationship had ended. Concerning the nonexistent pregnancy, she claimed Jeon had exhibited counterfeit pregnancy tests.
She stated she thought her now-former partner was a transgender man who had undergone gender reassignment surgery, although it's unclear why she believed the couple could have conceived.
South Korean legislation does not recognize same-sex marriage or civil unions, and homosexuality remains a subject of contempt in South Korean society.
Jeon informed her alleged victims she was the illicit son of Philip Jeon, who, along with his spouse, Choi Yoon-jung, possesses the Paradise Group. Its prestigious Paradise Casino ranks as the second-largest casino resort in the country.
The Paradise Group issued an official statement on Thursday, expressing worry about the unfounded claims surrounding Jeon Cheong-jo, which is adversely impacting their image and reputation. The company also emphasized that Jeon is not a blood relative of Philip Jeon.
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Source: www.casino.org
