Prosecutors Seek Prison Sentences for Gang That Planted Malware in PC Bangs Nationwide to Manipulate Search Terms

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] The prosecution has requested prison sentences for a group accused of implanting malware-laden programs in PC bangs nationwide and manipulating portal site search terms through them.

On the 27th, Judge Son Jeong-yeon of the Seoul Eastern District Court Criminal Division 6 presided over the sentencing hearing for Kim (39), CEO of the program development company, and Jo (39), CEO of a viral marketing company, who were indicted for violating the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc.

The prosecution requested the court to sentence Kim to three years in prison and impose a fine of 213.42 million won, and Jo to two years in prison and a fine of 54.22 million won.

They are accused not only of manipulating Naver related search terms using malware-laden programs while producing and supplying game management programs to more than 3,000 PC bangs nationwide, but also of stealing accounts and passwords entered by PC bang users and pocketing 400 million won.

In February, sentencing hearings were held for programmers Lee (28) and Sung (38), in addition to Kim and Jo. However, when Kim and Jo requested a reassessment of the fines, claiming they were excessively set, the prosecution made the final sentencing request on this day. The sentencing date for these four individuals has been set for 2 p.m. on the 14th of next month.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.