Chung Yu-yeon, the daughter of Choi Soon-sil, formerly named Chung Yoo-ra, 30, who had been indicted on charges including fraud and insult, received a suspended prison sentence.
On the 7th, Judge Ha Seok-chan of the single criminal division 1 at the Namyangju branch of the Uijeongbu District Court said Chung was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years.
Chung was brought to trial on charges of borrowing about 70 million won from an acquaintance in two instances in 2022–2023 with a promise of interest and then failing to repay. Chung is known to have swindled the money by deceiving the lender with a promise to pay interest of more than 30% of the principal. She is also accused of defaming another victim through social media (SNS) and other means.
The court said, "All of the defendant's charges of fraud and insult are found guilty," and explained the sentencing by noting, "The amount swindled is not small, and the insult victim wants punishment." However, it added, "We took into account that the fraud victim reached a settlement and does not want punishment, and that the defendant admitted all the crimes and is reflecting."
Earlier, Chung was indicted without detention in Jul. last year but failed to appear at the first trial held two months later, leading to her arrest in Feb. and confinement in a prison. Chung argued that the summons was misdelivered and she did not know a trial date had been set.
While confined in prison, Chung requested donations for her children. Through an acquaintance, she posted a handwritten letter and a bank account number on SNS, saying, "Please help just once so that our children don't have to go to an orphanage."