BTOB member Lee Chang-sub shocked fans by revealing he suffered a massive embezzlement loss while running a music academy.
Recently, a video documenting a day at a law firm was uploaded to Lee Chang-sub’s YouTube channel. In it, he confided to a lawyer about a personal loss. Lee explained that in the early days of operating a practical music academy, he put management in the hands of a proxy director who ended up causing him serious financial damage.
According to Lee, this person failed to pay staff salaries and freely used Lee’s funds without permission. To resolve the unpaid balance that followed, Lee said he had to cover additional costs out of pocket. He added that his direct loss alone amounted to about 110 million KRW (approximately $80,000).
Lee said, "They promised to repay me. We even drafted an IOU and stamped it," but the other party allegedly sent only a portion of the first month’s amount and then cut off contact.
After hearing his account, the lawyer determined the case clearly constitutes embezzlement under the law. If someone in charge of managing funds uses them for personal purposes, a crime is established, and even if the money is later paid back, the legal responsibility that has already formed does not disappear.
By sharing his experience, Lee warned viewers about the harsh reality of fraud and urged caution, expressing hope that it helps others avoid similar damage.