Singer and Composer Yoo Jae-hwan Cleared of Fraud Charges

Yoo Jae-hwan, a singer and composer, has been cleared of fraud allegations by the police. On January 10, the Gangseo Police Station in Seoul decided not to pursue charges against him due to insufficient evidence. Yoo was accused of deceiving 23 individuals into paying a total of 55 million KRW under the pretense of creating songs for them.

The police concluded that there was a lack of evidence to suggest that Yoo had no intention or ability to produce the songs. They noted that some applicants had successfully released their music, and Yoo had signed a studio rental agreement to facilitate the projects. Additionally, it was confirmed that the delays in production were due to the applicants needing to write their own lyrics, as per their agreement with Yoo.

In April of last year, an online post surfaced, claiming that Yoo had received payments for composition and meal expenses but had failed to deliver songs for two years, citing various excuses such as accidents and panic attacks. Yoo responded by stating, "I had several personal issues and health problems, but I did not intend to cause financial harm."

As more individuals came forward claiming to be victims, the controversy escalated. In June, Yoo hinted at suicidal thoughts in a social media post, expressing regret for not being able to refund the money he owed, stating he only had 4,000 KRW left. Following this, he was hospitalized in intensive care but later recovered.

After the police's decision of no charges, Yoo spoke to YTN Star on January 20, saying, "I don’t feel entirely happy. I just feel that the misunderstandings have been cleared up." He reflected on the difficulties he faced, stating, "Life doesn’t always go as planned. I started with good intentions, but it turned into a misunderstanding, which is disappointing."

Yoo mentioned that since the passing of his mother in August last year, he has been working from home. He revealed that he had attempted suicide and spent time in a psychiatric hospital, describing the period as extremely challenging, especially after losing his mother, which made daily life nearly impossible.

Currently in a state of bankruptcy, Yoo expressed his desire to repay his debts through music, stating, "Having been in music for so long, I feel I should repay through my art. It’s tough, but I’m thinking of playing the keyboard again."