Actress Lee Yu Bi, who starred in "The Scholar Who Walks The Night," recently became the victim of a blackmail attempt. Fortunately, the police quickly arrested the blackmailers.
According to the Korean media outlet Joongang Daily, the blackmailers contacted the actress after she lost her phone in a Seoul nightclub on October 17. She texted her phone asking that whoever found it to return it to her and claim a reward.
The person who found the phone asked for $17,500. If they did not get the money, they said, they would reveal the photos and private documents on her phone to the public. Since Lee had nothing to hide, her agency, Sidus HQ, reported the incident to the Gangnam police. The police had Lee Yu Bi set up a meeting with the blackmailers, saying she would pay them. When they showed up at a cafe they were arrested.
The agency released a statement after reporting the attempt to the police. In their statement they refer to the criminal as "A."
"'A' discovered Lee Yu Bi's phone and threatened to either sell her personal information to the press or leak it online, blackmailing her for money. Without permission 'A' stole personal information from the lost article and consistently requested money by making threatening phone calls from different public phones. There was no reason to hide the contents of the cell phone so the company immediately requested the help of an investigation which led to the arrest of the threatener and blackmailer, who was sent to the prosecutors."
According to the agency, the blackmailers took advantage of Lee's position as a celebrity. The agency cautioned the media against speculating about any information or photos that might be on the phone.
"We entreat you to refrain from reports that have nonsensical content or groundless facts concerning this matter or from reports that violate Lee Yu Bi's private life."
Before appearing in "The Scholar Who Walks The Night," Lee Yu Bi had a role in "Pinocchio" with Park Shin Hye and Lee Jong Suk. She previously appeared in the dramas "Gu Family Book," "Nice Guy" and "Vampire Idol." She appeared in the films "Royal Tailor" and "Twenty."
Her "Pinocchio" co-star Park Shin Hye also lost her phone this year when she was in London for a photo shoot with Lee Jong Suk.
