"난 살아있는 부처" Gaslighting... Shaman Extorted 1.4 Billion Won Over 16 Years
"Threatened 'If you don't listen, your family will die'"
Denies crime, claims "It's for the victim" even after arrest
A shaman in his 60s who allegedly gaslighted a follower for 16 years to extort a large sum of money has been brought to trial.
The Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office Yeongdong Branch announced on the 29th, "We have arrested and indicted a shaman in his 60s, Mr. A, on charges of fraud under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes for extorting over one billion won from a follower through gaslighting over more than ten years."
Mr. A reportedly called himself a "living Buddha" and told follower Mr. B, "If you keep your money, it will all disappear, so entrust it to me," thereby extorting money. He also said, "If you don't listen, your family will die," and "I will get you and your children government jobs."
He also brainwashed Mr. B by saying, "If you contact acquaintances or family around you, misfortune will happen to each other." Using this method, Mr. A isolated Mr. B for years, preventing him from receiving help from others.
From 2006 to 2021, over 16 years and 139 occasions, Mr. A extorted a total of 1.4 billion won from Mr. B. It was confirmed that victim Mr. B sold real estate he owned and even went into debt to give money to Mr. A.
After persuasion from his family, Mr. B filed a complaint against Mr. A with the police in February. However, Mr. A denies the charges, claiming, "Everything was for Mr. B's benefit."
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Gaslighting is a term derived from the 1938 play "Gas Light," referring to the act of subtly manipulating another person's psychology or situation to strengthen control over them. It often occurs in close or intimate relationships such as family, school, or romantic partners, and typically involves asymmetric power dynamics used to control and oppress someone rather than horizontal relationships.
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