A South Korean court has authorized the arrest of the former partner of an Olympic medalist on charges of defrauding numerous individuals of 1.9 billion won ($1.4 million), as reported by the news agency Yonhap.
The individual in question, Jeon Cheong-jo, had reportedly been engaged to Nam Hyun-hee, the fencing champion from the 2008 Beijing Olympics. However, recent media reports indicate that Nam has terminated the relationship with Jeon. Furthermore, Jeon has revealed to Channel A that he is currently in the process of transitioning from female to male.
Despite requests for comments, Nam has yet to respond, while Jeon’s legal representatives have confirmed that their client is actively cooperating with the ongoing police investigation.
It has been disclosed that Jeon had purportedly presented himself as the heir to a prominent South Korean hotel and casino conglomerate, originally hailing from New York. Screenshots of text messages allegedly sent by Jeon have circulated, showcasing the use of a few English phrases, notably “I am” at the beginning of sentences, presumably in an effort to bolster his fabricated narrative.
This development has triggered an array of social media memes, with notable figures such as RM of the K-pop group BTS utilizing the phrase “I am” in their posts. Additionally, several retailers have incorporated the meme into their product advertisements.
