Honeymoon tour agency shuts down business after taking money from newly-weds
Honeymoon plans of dozens of couples have been ruined by a fraud. Yonhap
By Lee Min-young
Honeymoon dreams have turned into a nightmare after the head of a travel agency ran away with the money from dozens of newly-weds.
According to Seoul's Suseo Police Station Tuesday, the suspect, surnamed Kim, has fled Korea after allegedly taking hundreds of millions of won (tens of thousands of dollars) from the couples.
Each person gave Kim 3 million to 7 million won through the agency's bank account, thinking that the money would cover the costs of their overseas travel programs.
The company, which was set up early April, even participated in a big promotion event for newly-weds at COEX in Seoul later to lure customers, police said.
Last week, the company posted a notice on its website that it has shut down the business, saying that customers who had made advance payments would be able to receive refunds from its travel insurance. But surety insurance provides limited coverage of up to 200 million won, which falls far short of the financial damages.
In addition to pressing fraud charges against Kim, about 70 people are preparing to file a damage suit against him.