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Man arrested for threatening actress for money after finding cellphone

October 28, 2015

Lee Yoo-bi (Yonhap)

A man who found the cellphone of South Korean actress Lee Yoo-bi was arrested by Seoul police for requesting that she pay him 20 million won, or roughly $17,450, for its return, Yonhap reported.

Two others suspected of helping the man identified as 28-year-old Bae, Lee and Park, both 18, were booked without detention.

According to police, Lee Yoo-bi lost her cellphone on Oct. 17 inside a Gangnam night club around 4 a.m. On Oct. 22, she used a friend’s cellphone to text her number, saying she would give a reward for the return of her phone.

Bae, who found that Lee Yoo-bi’s cellphone was unlocked, figured out she was a celebrity by looking through her photos, police said. He called the actress four times on Oct. 22 asking for $17,450 in exchange for the phone, and again the next day.

Her agency reported the man to police. Bae was caught by police when he showed up to a cafe thinking he would receive the money from the actress.

Police are investigating how Bae got a hold of Lee Yoo-bi’s cellphone.

“The man threatened to sell the contents of Lee Yoo-bi’s cellphone to media outlets or upload them online if we didn’t give him the money,” her agency Sidus HQ said.

Lee Yoo-bi