Former T-ara Member Ahreum (Lee Ahreum) Sentenced to Suspended Prison Term for Child Abuse and Defamation.
On the 16th, the Ansan branch of the Suwon District Court's Criminal Division 9, presided by Chief Judge Yoon Sang-do, sentenced Lee Ahreum to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, according to a report by News1. The court also ordered her to complete 40 hours of child abuse prevention education.
Lee was charged with emotionally abusing her children by verbally abusing her ex-husband in front of them in November 2021. She also faced defamation charges under the Information and Communications Network Act for criticizing an individual, identified as B, on an internet broadcast. B had disclosed a court ruling involving Lee's boyfriend, A.
The Court stated, "Lee has admitted all charges related to her children," and added, "Although she claims there was no intent to defame, she made irrational statements, such as alleging that the court ruling involving a specific individual was fabricated, without making any effort to verify the facts."
The judge explained, "At minimum, it can be concluded that she acted with willful negligence. Her statements, which were not based on facts, were made on an internet broadcast accessible to an indefinite audience, clearly indicating an intent to defame the victim. Additionally, her failure to receive forgiveness from the victim was considered a disadvantageous factor in sentencing."
Lee’s mother, identified as C, was also sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for one year, on charges of child neglect. She was accused of allowing Lee’s children to remain in an environment where their mother verbally abused her former spouse between 2021 and 2022. The court noted, "C admitted her wrongdoing and was considered the children’s grandmother. Her lack of prior criminal records was also taken into account."
Meanwhile, in October of last year, Lee Ahreum announced via social media that she had given birth to her third child with her boyfriend. She shared a photo of her daughter, stating, "This should clear up all questions about my child," and mentioned that she was resolving legal issues, including those involving individuals who attacked her maliciously. "I won’t concern myself with such matters any longer," she wrote, adding that she intends to live a happy and ordinary life with her child and work hard to become an admirable woman of this era.
Separately, in August of last year, Lee was also referred for prosecution without detention on charges of failing to repay approximately 37 million KRW (~$29,000) borrowed from three individuals, including a fan. The victims claimed that Lee borrowed money citing personal reasons involving her boyfriend but has yet to repay it. Reportedly, police also suspect Lee’s boyfriend, the father of her third child, of extorting part of the amount from the victims and referred him to the prosecution as well.
Lee debuted in the music industry in July 2012 as a new member of the girl group T-ara. However, she left the group after just one year in July 2013 and announced her plans for a solo career. In 2019, she married a non-celebrity and had two sons but revealed in 2023 that she was undergoing divorce proceedings. Amid this, she announced her remarriage and disclosed her relationship with her current boyfriend.
