Singer Jang Yun-jeong. [Newsis]
Singer Jang Yun-jeong. [Newsis]

The mother of singer Jang Yun-jeong has appealed a 10-month prison sentence in a fraud case, despite weeping in court and expressing remorse. Yuk, 70, is accused of invoking her daughter's name to swindle tens of millions of won from acquaintances.

According to legal sources, Yuk filed an appeal Wednesday against the first-instance ruling in her fraud case.

The court had sentenced Yuk to 10 months in prison on fraud charges. With the appeal filed, the case will now go before a second-instance court.

Yuk is accused of mentioning her daughter — a well-known singer — while soliciting investments from an acquaintance on three separate occasions between September 2024 and August of the following year, collecting a total of 31 million won ($22,900) that she kept for herself.

At the first hearing last month, prosecutors sought a sentence of one year and six months, citing Yuk's prior convictions for similar fraud, the sizable losses, and the fact that the victim had not been compensated.

In response, Yuk's side acknowledged all charges at the hearing and appealed for leniency.

"The defendant admits to all charges and is deeply remorseful," her defense attorney said. "Despite having prior convictions for the same type of offense, she committed the crime again — there are no words to excuse that."

On the motive, the attorney said Yuk committed the fraud to cover living expenses and credit card bills, and that most of the money was spent on daily living costs.

In her final statement, Yuk wept and apologized, saying, "I have truly wronged the victim and my family."

Meanwhile, Jang's representatives said when news of the charges first broke that the singer had cut off contact with her mother more than a decade ago and that the case was entirely unrelated to Jang Yun-jeong.


yeonjoo7@heraldcorp.com