Kim Hyun-joong — the singer-actor formerly of the boy group SS501 — stunned viewers by revealing he had fallen victim to scams totaling tens of billions of won.
On May 14, a video featuring Kim Hyun-joong, Heo Young-saeng, and Kim Kyu-jong — currently promoting as FIVE O ONE — was uploaded to actor Seo Yoo-jung’s YouTube channel. The trio discussed their 20th-anniversary activities, recent updates, investing, and more.
As Kim Kyu-jong shared that he gives his parents an allowance funded by a one-room rental business, the conversation naturally shifted to personal finance — and then to Kim Hyun-joong’s guitar hobby. Kim said, “My most expensive guitar cost around 30 million won,” adding, “It seems to be worth even more now than when I bought it.”
But amid the lighthearted mood, Kim Hyun-joong dropped a bombshell about his past. “I’m basically top tier when it comes to scam victims. I’ve been hit a lot. The total damage runs into the tens of billions of won,” he revealed, shocking everyone. Asked if it was voice phishing, Kim clarified, “No, it wasn’t that — it was people.” He added, “It wasn’t just one person — I was deceived by several,” indicating it wasn’t an isolated incident.
He continued, “Some were friends I’d known since I was young, and others were people I had maintained relationships with for a long time,” recalling how “at some point, those people started making sweet offers.” His account implied the betrayals happened within circles he trusted.
Meanwhile, Kim Hyun-joong is currently promoting as FIVE O ONE alongside Heo Young-saeng and Kim Kyu-jong.