Police have launched an investigation into a YouTuber who called themself a "Second Coming Jesus" and siphoned off tens of billions of won in donations from followers.
According to police on the 28th, a person identified as A has been booked on suspicion of fraud and violating the Donations Act and is under investigation. A is said to have been active mainly on YouTube and internet cafes for about two years, introducing themself as the "Second Coming Jesus" and claiming that the end of humanity was imminent.
A is suspected of pocketing donations under the pretext of building a new temple, saying, "You can be saved only by offering wealth." According to JTBC, A, who had worked as a writing instructor, began preaching apocalyptic theories on YouTube in 2023 and started posing as a cult leader.
Saying that "the destruction of Earth is approaching quickly," A drew people to a previously run online cafe and named it the Korea Spiritual Writing Coaching Association. A then reportedly took 300,000 won from followers as lecture fees and demanded up to several million won to buy books.
A also claimed the number 4 was a "sacred number" and instructed followers to make consecutive deposits in 40,000-won increments into A's corporate account. One victim is said to have deposited a total of 444.44 million won.
A operated a total of three donation accounts, and, according to media verification, about 5 billion won flowed into those accounts over roughly two years starting in Jan. 2024.
A even suggested specific ways for followers to raise more money. A reportedly instructed one follower, "Do not sell your dwellings; take out a mortgage loan to the maximum and donate." In fact, one victim, after handing over their entire fortune, also used part of a housing deposit and even a card loan for donations, it was found.
While pushing doomsday to brainwash followers, A urged them to cancel various insurance policies, yet it turned out A themself was enrolled in whole life insurance under both a personal name and a corporate name. The premiums were said to have been withdrawn from the donation accounts funded by followers.
Although doomsday was used to indoctrinate followers, indications also emerged that A and family maintained a lavish lifestyle. All three of A's children attended international schools, and A reportedly owned three expensive imported cars, including a Rubicon and a Mercedes G-Wagen.
A lived in a top-floor 90-pyeong penthouse in Dongtan, Gyeonggi Province, called followers "workers of light," and even had them serve as housekeepers or drivers. A justified this by explaining it as "a privilege and mission enjoyed by followers who come to the temple."
Eventually, four victims filed a criminal complaint against A with police, and the Dongtan Police Station launched a full-scale investigation on suspicion of fraud and violating the Donations Act. Police are examining the facts, focusing on the period of harm, the amount of damage, and how the funds were used.