“Principal and Fixed Returns Guaranteed”... Real Estate YouTuber Arrested for Swindling 12.5 Billion Won from 126 People

Exploited trust built through TV appearances and auction classes
Bundang Police seek to preserve 8.2 billion won in criminal proceeds for confiscation

A real estate YouTuber and instructor accused of defrauding 126 people, including students, of approximately 12.5 billion won by promising to guarantee their principal and fixed returns from real estate auction investments has been arrested and referred to prosecutors.

Items seized from the suspect's office. Provided by Bundang Police Station.

Bundang Police Station in Gyeonggi Province said on November 3 that it had arrested A, who ran a real estate YouTube channel and an auction academy, on charges of fraud and illegal fundraising, and referred the case to prosecutors on October 30.

A is accused of taking approximately 12.5 billion won from 126 victims between January 2019 and July 2026 by falsely promising that investments in a fund he operated would generate profits through real estate auctions and other means, allowing him to return their principal and pay fixed returns.

According to police, A made a name for himself as a real estate investment expert by appearing on various broadcasts, including television programs. Investigators found that he later raised investment funds by relying on the trust of students who attended his classes and other investors.

However, police determined that he managed the funds using what is known as a Ponzi scheme, paying existing investors their principal and returns with money from new investors, without any concrete investment plan or means of generating profits.

Investigators found that the funds A received over approximately seven years totaled more than 40 billion won. Police said most of the money was paid to existing investors in a manner resembling a rollover scheme, while tens of billions of won were used for personal purposes, including private consumption, or to purchase buildings under a company's name.

Investment Agreement. Provided by Bundang Police Station.

After receiving the first victim report on August 23, 2026, police designated Bundang Police Station as the lead station for the intensive investigation and combined 100 related cases. They secured evidence through searches and seizures and by tracing the funds, and applied for a provisional freeze on approximately 8.2 billion won in criminal proceeds obtained by A.

A police official said, "If someone raises investment funds by promising to guarantee the principal, you should suspect illegal fundraising," adding, "Please remember that high returns come with correspondingly high risks."

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