"Paid Off Father's Rice Debt from 20 Years Ago"… Couple Fined for Causing Disturbance Visiting Singer Bi

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] A couple who caused a disturbance at the home of singer and actor Rain (real name Jung Ji-hoon, 38) demanding repayment of rice money purchased on credit by his father over 20 years ago were sentenced to fines.

On the 16th, Chief Judge Yoo Chang-hoon of Criminal Division 7 at the Seoul Western District Court announced that A (79) and his wife (73), who were tried for violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes (joint property damage, etc.), were each sentenced to a fine of 700,000 won.

Earlier, in 2018, when the celebrity 'debt controversy' (#debttoo) was ongoing, A’s side posted online in communities a message titled 'Accusing singer Rain’s parents,' claiming that Rain’s parents, who ran a rice cake shop, borrowed about 25 million won from their family-run rice store and did not repay it.

In September last year, A’s side filed a civil lawsuit seeking 50 million won against Jung but lost the case in January this year. In February, singer Rain filed for a restraining order against A and his wife, which the court granted in April of the same year.

Nevertheless, A and his wife claimed that Jung’s father, Mr. Jung, purchased rice for making rice cakes on credit from their rice store at a market in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, over 20 years ago when he ran a rice cake shop with his wife, and has not repaid the amount to date.

In February this year, A and his wife went to the house where Jung and Rain live together, but when Jung refused to meet them, they shouted, "Please pay back the rice money," repeatedly hit the gate, damaging a gate opener worth about 200,000 won, forcibly opened the door, and entered the entrance and yard without permission.

The court stated, "Although the victim has suffered considerable mental distress, he does not wish to press charges, and considering the long history of mutual interaction during difficult times in the past and their current advanced age, among other factors."

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