Jo Hye-ryun & Lee Kyung-sil Hit by Fan Scams: "Receiving DMs Asking for Millions"

Comediennes Jo Hye-ryun and Lee Kyung-sil have revealed that they are frequently targeted by individuals posing as fans who then ask to borrow money.

In a recent YouTube episode of 'Sinyeoseong' (New Woman), Jo Hye-ryun shared, "I still receive several direct messages every day from people claiming to be fans, expressing how touched they were, only to end with a request to borrow money." She added that the requested sums range from millions to tens of millions of Korean won. Initially, she offered some help, but soon realized the pattern and became wary.

Lee Kyung-sil echoed similar experiences, stating, "They plead for help just once." She believes some people exploit celebrities, using the anonymity of social media to their advantage. This tactic causes distress to many celebrities, sometimes leading them to delete their social media accounts altogether because it's difficult to verify the legitimacy of the requests or trace the perpetrators even if they are scams.

During the talk show segment titled 'Characteristics of People You Want to Cut Ties With,' Jo Hye-ryun advised avoiding those who discuss money too casually or those who borrow and fail to repay on time. When MC Lee Sun-min asked if they had experienced unreturned loans, both Jo and Lee confirmed they had. Lee Kyung-sil humorously remarked, "I've been shortchanged so much, I could have bought a building with the money I'm owed."

Lee Kyung-sil emphasized the importance of give-and-take in relationships, suggesting that selfish individuals should be cut off. Regarding how to distance oneself, she offered a new perspective: "I used to think being clear with a 'yes' or 'no' was best, but now I don't think that's necessary. I don't need to explicitly say 'no.' It's better to let people naturally drift away."

In other news from the 'Sinyeoseong' episode, Jo Hye-ryun shared for the first time her college story of drinking 2700cc of beer in three gulps to date a senior she had a crush on. Jo Hye-ryun and Lee Kyung-sil also mentioned preparing content with Park Mi-sun, who is reportedly battling breast cancer, and expressed their desire to invite her onto 'Sinyeoseong' soon.

Jo Hye-ryun debuted as a KBS comedian in 1995 and has established herself as a leading female comedian in South Korea. She is a versatile entertainer active in various fields including variety shows, dramas, and radio. Recently, she has been connecting with viewers through her candid and humorous talk on the YouTube channel 'Sinyeoseong'.