Jo Joo-bin Approaches Former Mayor Yoon Jang-hyun Saying "I'll Connect You Well with Son Seok-hee"

Former Mayor of Gwangju City, Yoon Jang-hyun [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Shin-won] Jo Joo-bin, who was arrested for producing and distributing sexual exploitation materials of women on Telegram, is reported to have committed fraud against former Gwangju Mayor Yoon Jang-hyun.

According to a source close to former Mayor Yoon on the 25th, someone impersonating Mrs. Kwon Yang-sook approached Yoon, who was undergoing an appellate trial for violating the Public Official Election Act by giving money as a bribe for nomination, and said, "I will help you clear your grievances."

Choi, who introduced himself as working at an institution in Seoul, contacted former Mayor Yoon via Telegram, saying, "I heard you helped the children of fraudsters thinking they were the illegitimate children of former President Roh Moo-hyun. If you provide materials related to the children, I will review them."

When former Mayor Yoon said he believed the fraudster's words but had no materials, Choi suggested, "Then how about appearing on JTBC to explain your grievances?" He said he knew Son Seok-hee, then anchor of JTBC Newsroom, well and invited former Mayor Yoon to Seoul to visit the JTBC broadcasting station together.

Former Mayor Yoon did not personally greet President Son, but Choi was seen from a distance acting familiar and talking with President Son in the studio.

The source said former Mayor Yoon trusted Choi's words, "If there is an opportunity, let's arrange an interview broadcast soon."

However, no appearance date was set, and in December last year, former Mayor Yoon was sentenced to one year in prison with two years probation in the appellate trial, and the sentence was finalized by the Supreme Court on the 17th.

During the appellate trial, former Mayor Yoon gave money to Choi, who requested activity expenses, and recently learned it was a fraud after being contacted by the police.

According to sources, Choi sent a person called "Park" to Gwangju to collect the money at that time.

The police were also investigating Jo Joo-bin for multiple fraud acts on Telegram before operating the "Baksa Room."

Considering Jo Joo-bin's history of not appearing in public and having accomplices commit crimes, there is a strong analysis that he may have manipulated the situation behind the scenes through a third party called "Choi" this time as well.

A source close to former Mayor Yoon said, "Former Mayor Yoon still seems unable to distinguish whether the person who committed the fraud was Jo Joo-bin or someone else."

Jo Joo-bin, upon being transferred from Jongno Police Station in Seoul to the prosecution on the same day, said, "I sincerely apologize to President Son Seok-hee, Mayor Yoon Jang-hyun, Reporter Kim Woong, and all those who have been harmed by me."

A police official said, "The mentioned individuals are victims in different cases and are under investigation, so we cannot confirm specific details," adding, "However, they did not view sexual exploitation materials or join the (Nth Room)."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.