An update on Jeon Cheong-jo, who is imprisoned on fraud charges involving about 3 billion won, has drawn a wave of online reaction.
A video titled “Reading updates on notorious criminals in prison” was posted April 30 on the YouTube channel “Ilkda.”
The video includes accounts from inmates who said they lived with Jeon.
One source, identified as A, claimed Jeon introduced themself as bisexual and said they had previously been pregnant and had lived with a man.
The source also alleged Jeon would remove their shirt for about an hour after hot showers, which are allowed twice a week, and appeared to do so to show their chest after a mastectomy.
The source said Jeon received testosterone injections and grew facial hair, keeping an electric razor in the room and shaving frequently. The source claimed Jeon believed they were male and repeatedly approached women, and that Jeon was later moved to a cellblock where foreign inmates stay.
The report also said Jeon, early in detention, showed strong possessiveness and resentment when another inmate drew more attention, and at times clashed with others after being unable to tolerate gossip.
Online commenters responded with remarks such as, “Put them in the men’s unit and they’ll cover up,” and “They show that dating and marriage are about confidence, regardless of gender or looks.” Others posted stock-related jokes, including, “If I had bought Nvidia back then, I could have graduated from stocks,” “So did Jeon buy Nvidia?” and “What should we buy next?”
Jeon was sentenced to 13 years in prison for fraud under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes and is serving the term at Cheongju Women’s Prison.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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