Fraud Victim of P1Harmony Keeho’s Mother Says The Idol Offered To Pay Him Back, But Under One Condition
In March 2024, Korean news outlet xportsnews reported that P1Harmony member Keeho and 82MAJOR member Yoon Yechan‘s mother, Kim Jenny (or Kim Myung Shin prior to her name change), had been sued for fraud. The exclusive report revealed Park Sang Hyun, CEO of production company HUG INTL, was one of the victims who explained that Kim borrowed ₩1.10 billion KRW (about $757,000 USD) from him—swearing on her two K-Pop idol sons that she would return it in full after four months.
I alone incurred damages worth ₩1.10 billion KRW (about $757,000 USD) in this fraud case. And at least 10 more victims, whose total damages amount to ₩3.00 billion KRW (about $2.07 million USD), and I have filed a lawsuit against Kim. There are other victims as well, and the full amount of financial damage suffered in this case approximates about ₩30.0 billion KRW (about $20.7 million USD).
— Park Sang Hyun
Almost a year later, Park has taken to his Instagram and, in a series of Stories updates condemning Keeho, Kim, and FNC Entertainment, shared updates about the lawsuit.
In the first part addressed to Keeho, Park confronted Keeho for offering ₩300 million KRW (about $207,000 USD) in exchange for not mentioning the idol’s name in association with the case.
“Dear Keeho.
I heard something absurd from your mother’s lawyer today. You know, the lawyer from your agency. It occurs to me that you’ve only been hearing your mother’s side of the story and so you don’t fully understand the situation, so I’m going to explain.
I heard that you offered to pay me the ₩300 million KRW (about $207,000 USD) that your mother owes me, but that in return, you don’t want me to mention your name anymore because it has been difficult for you. You know, people say children are mirror reflections of their parents. That seems to be the case, indeed.
Listen to me carefully. I sent the ₩300 million KRW (about $207,000 USD) to your mother. Then, she asked for ₩800 million KRW (about $551,000 USD) more to be sent to someone named Chairman Park. I did. I wanted to meet this Chairman Park first, but she wouldn’t let me. She did assure me that she trusted him 2000% and that she had known him for two decades. She told me not to doubt anything and to simply trust her. She guaranteed that things would not go wrong, swearing on you, your brother, and your uncle.
So I did trust her. I figured, when a parent swears on their child, one who is actively pursuing an idol career, she is willing to take full responsibility. On top of that, I have known your uncle for a long time and I deeply respected him, too. That’s why I believed your mother when she promised to pay me back within four months. She even sent a written pledge.
Keeho, I have two daughters, too. I often wonder—if I ever promise anything and swear on my children, what would I do? I would keep the promise. Even it means I have to pay it back by death and the life insurance payout, I would not regret it.
I heard you said that you wanted to handle things yourself because you’re struggling with all the social media backlash. But do you have any idea what it had been like for me and my family for the past two years, while you were getting famous and tasting success? I’ve written down about eight pages of what we went through. Had you any sense of reason, you would know to consider all the pain and suffering, both mentally and financially, that we endured.
But no, you would rather wire the money I lent to your mother on the condition that I don’t talk about you anymore… You must really think I’m a pushover.”
Park also wrote that Kim had previously sent a memo promising to pay his money back by October 20, 2023, asking him to leave her children out of it all. Hinting that the “children” were involved after she first broke her promise, Park noted, “You should know what your mother did to me.”
“Keeho. After waiting and waiting, I finally reached out to your uncle in Toronto around August two years ago. He was shocked and felt sorry for me, but not too long after, he blocked me. Your mother had already cut off all contact by that point in time. What was I supposed to do?
Because of all this, my company went under. The film I produced failed. I lost my home. I lost a business deal that I worked really hard on. My entire family was buried in debt. We were harassed endlessly by creditors. Tell me, what was I supposed to do?
In the written pledge your mother wrote, signed, and sent through a third party, she included a condition that I leave her children out of it all. She and Chairman Park had both signed it, promising to resolve everything by October 20, 2023. And yet, another year has passed. Next time, I’ll show you the document.
Oh, and your lawyer mentioned that I should sue Chairman Park because, according to them, your mother is also a victim of his. But know that your mother is the one who gathered the victims. She herself admitted that there were 22 people who sent her money. She said so publicly. I submitted a recording of it as evidence.
I once begged your mother in tears, pleading with her to pay me back even a small portion of the money, just so I wouldn’t have to bring you and Yechan in to this. It’s not like I decided to get in touch with your uncle out of anger on a random day.
I’m going to keep showing you what your mother did to me. You and your brother deserve to know the truth.”
In the second part addressed to Kim Jenny herself, Park cleared up two things that Kim alleged against him and urged her to be a good parent and take the burden off Keeho by taking responsibility of her own actions.
“And dear Keeho and Yechan’s mother, Myung Shin noona.
I would like to say a few things to you, too. Whenever I post things about the case, people share it, and it seems whatever I say eventually does reach you and your family. So here I go.
During the last cross-examination, I thought that, at the very least, you would apologize to me. But for the three hours we were there, all I heard were excuses, lies, and complaints about how your children were suffering because of me.
I just want to clarify two things. You told the investigator that I used Keeho to promote my movie.
Because you didn’t pay me back on the date you promised, I couldn’t pay the P&A costs for that movie, which meant it barely got screened in theaters and ended up failing. I’m still paying back the money I had to borrow to afford its premiere. I’m constantly being hounded for payments. You knew from the beginning what Galaxies meant to me. You knew I invested everything I had into that movie to give opportunities to directors who had none. And yet you accused me of using the case for its promotion? Just because reporters decided to include the fact that I produced Galaxies does not mean I was trying to promote it in relation to this case. What, do you think I went around asking the reporters to include a bit about the movie?
You also told the investigator that I told you to watch your back at night. Really? When?
In almost 50 years of my life, I have never used such language. Do you take me for a thug or something? Why are you making up things I never said? Is it to convince the investigator?
I’ve spent my entire life as an athlete and a coach. And you’re saying I threatened an older woman to watch her back and be careful at night? I’m deeply insulted. After the investigation, I was so angry that I couldn’t stop crying on my way home.
You’re throwing out lies after lies to avoid facing the consequences of your actions. So, I fact-checked every single one of your claims, provided supporting evidence, and submitted my statement to the investigator yesterday.
As an adult, and as a parent, please take responsibility for your words and actions. It’s not too late. Don’t try to run from this. It’ll only come back to bring you down even more.”
Then, in the final part addressed to FNC Entertainment, Park criticized the agency for helping Kim—citing the founder’s devoted Christian background—and asked the agency to stop intervening, knowing the damages she caused him and other victims. He also mentioned that he, too, would take additional legal action, should FNC Entertainment continue to get involved.
“And finally, a few words to the adults running FNC Entertainment: I know what FNC in FNC Entertainment stands for. I know what it means.
I’m sure you’ve looked into this already, but I lived as a missionary in Africa for a decade. I was overwhelmed by the love I received during those years that, when I returned to Korea, I started a business. I wanted to become someone who gives, instead of someone who receives, so I financially supported 32 struggling families. I shared everything I earned. This means that my family isn’t the only one that Keeho’s mom destroyed. She also cut off the support for those 32 families in need.
So please don’t try to cover this up. Don’t help Keeho’s mom escape responsibility. Act like real adults and hold her accountable so she can make things right. I heard that you mentioned legal action against me. You’re free to do whatever you want. If that’s how you choose to handle this situation, I will stand my ground and respond accordingly.”
None of the mentioned parties in Park Sang Hyun’s Instagram Stories have responded—though the buzz around the case is growing across online communities.
