Kim Woong Sentenced to 6 Months in Prison in Second Trial for Attempted Extortion of Sohn Seok-hee

Freelance reporter Kim Woong, who was indicted on charges of demanding employment and money by threatening to report on past vehicle contact accidents involving Sohn Seok-hee, CEO of JTBC, attended the sentencing hearing held on the morning of July 8 at the Seoul Western District Court in Mapo-gu.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Donghoon Jeong and Intern Reporter Suhwan Kim] The second trial court also sentenced freelance reporter Kim Woong to prison for allegedly demanding employment and money by threatening to report on a past car accident involving Son Seok-hee, CEO of JTBC.

The Seoul Western District Court Criminal Appeal Division 1-2 (Presiding Judge Gye-seon Jeong) on the 19th dismissed both Kim's and the prosecution's appeals in the appeal trial for attempted extortion and upheld the six-month prison sentence handed down in the first trial. The prosecution had sought a prison term of one year and six months for Kim in both the first trial and the appeal.

The court stated, "The defendant continuously threatened the victim and reported to the media without further verification of facts, causing damage that is difficult to explain to the victim," adding, "Considering the circumstances and methods of the crime, the nature of the offense is not light, and the defendant claims remorse by deleting YouTube videos."

Kim is accused of demanding employment and 240 million won from August 2018 to January last year by threatening to report on a past contact accident caused by CEO Son and to file a lawsuit for assault, but the attempt was unsuccessful.

On May 27, the prosecution requested a prison sentence of one year and six months for Kim, stating, "The defendant denies the charges and shifts responsibility to the victim." The prosecution added, "Although the crime was attempted, considering the long duration of the act, please take this into account."

This matter became public when Kim claimed to have been assaulted by CEO Son. In January last year, Kim filed a complaint against Son, alleging that Son assaulted him in front of a Japanese restaurant in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, causing injuries requiring three weeks of medical treatment. On the other hand, Son counter-sued Kim, stating, "Rather, Kim illegally requested employment, and when rejected, he threatened me."

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