Couple Sentenced to Prison for Embezzling 6.6 Billion Won by Posing as Fake Shamans

Psychological Manipulation of Victim

Coerced Embezzlement of Company Funds

Court: "Nature of Crime Is Very Severe... Sincerity of Remorse in Doubt"

A married couple who pretended to be shamans and extorted 6.6 billion won in company funds from a former home appliance company CEO have been sentenced to prison terms.

On July 3, the 15th Criminal Division of the Seoul Southern District Court (Presiding Judge Noh Youkyoung) sentenced Jang, a man in his 40s, and Shim, a woman in her 40s, each to eight years in prison for embezzlement under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Economic Crimes.

Seoul Southern District Court. Photo by Jiye Lee

Jang and others were brought to trial on charges of befriending Mr. A, then-CEO of a well-known home appliance company, at a parents' meeting in 2018, and later pretending to be a fictitious shaman named 'Jo Malrye' in order to coerce him into embezzling company funds.

The court stated, "Jang himself testified that he was asked to open a mobile phone under Shim's name and to pose as the fictitious shaman 'Jo Malrye.' Shim also specifically testified to investigators that Jang sent text messages to the victim while impersonating Jo Malrye." The court continued, "The victim also testified that he began the embezzlement after receiving a text message from Jo Malrye saying, 'If you want the company to succeed, you must withdraw funds and build an altar.' Therefore, the defendants' claim that they were unaware of the embezzlement is difficult to accept."

The court explained the sentencing by stating, "Given the circumstances and methods of the crime, the scale of the damages, and the amount obtained, the nature of the offense is extremely egregious and highly blameworthy. In addition, the defendants' attitude in court raises doubts about the sincerity of their remorse."

Jang and others were found to have psychologically dominated Mr. A by repeatedly instructing him to "bring company funds as offerings for the altar" while pretending to be shamans. From January 2019 to April 2020, Mr. A diverted and handed over a total of 6,587 million won in company funds.

During the trial, Jang claimed that he did not know the money he received before June 2019 was company funds. Shim also denied knowing about the embezzlement or having any involvement in the crime.

Jang and Shim have also been separately indicted on charges of blackmail and fraud in connection with this case. The verdict on those charges is scheduled to be delivered on the 14th. The victim, Mr. A, was sentenced to three years in prison last April for embezzling company funds.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.