Ex-mayor of Gwangju probed after sending money to fake ex-first lady

Former Gwangju Mayor Yoon Jang-hyun / Yonhap

By Jung Min-ho

Former Gwangju Mayor Yoon Jang-hyun is being investigated after sending about 450 million won ($400,000) to a swindler who pretended to be former President Roh Moo-hyun's widow Kwon Yang-sook.

The Gwangju District Public Prosecutors' Office said Monday it is now tracing the source of the money, which Yoon sent to the person ― who turned out to be a 49-year-old ex-convict ― on four occasions between December 2017 and January.

The swindler, who was later arrested on charges of fraud, told Yoon she needed money for her daughter's business. He said he didn't doubt her because the voice on the phone was “exactly like Kwon's.”

Following the news, civic groups questioned Yoon's motive for sending the money and urged the prosecution to investigate where it came from.

“We suspect that Yoon sent her the money as 'insurance' for the next election,” an official at Transparency International-Korea, said.

“He may be a victim, but he should apologize to everyone in Gwangju for tarnishing its good name … We urge investigators to get to the bottom of the case.”

According to the prosecution, the suspect sent text messages to about 10 politicians, pretending to be Kwon or current first lady Kim Jung-sook. But Yoon was the only one who sent the woman money.