Hong Seok-cheon Warns of Impersonator Scam: 'Tens of Millions Won Fraud'

Broadcaster Hong Seok-cheon has alerted the public to a scam involving an imposter using his name. He revealed on his personal social media that a man in his 30s, who initially claimed to be a fan and sought his help for a water sports business, has since defrauded several women out of tens of millions of won by falsely leveraging their supposed friendship.

The scammer reportedly created fake chat messages to convince victims of his close ties with Hong Seok-cheon and even attempted to involve YouTuber Lalala by suggesting a joint YouTube video. Hong Seok-cheon urged the public to be wary of any 30-something male asking for loans or investments under his name and advised victims to report the incidents to the police.

Hong Seok-cheon plans to address the issue further on his YouTube channel, 'Hong Seok-cheon's Usefulness,' after verifying legal aspects and considering further action. He also apologized to Lalala for her name being brought up in the fraudulent scheme.

Hong Seok-cheon debuted as an actor in 1995 through MBC's open recruitment. He is widely beloved for his exceptional variety show skills and candid speaking style, actively participating in numerous television programs. Notably, as an openly gay celebrity, he has also contributed to improving societal perceptions of minority groups.