'Produce' Rank Manipulation: PDs Ahn Jun-young and Kim Yong-beom Sentenced Again in 2nd Trial, Victim List Including Lee Ga-eun and Lee Jin-hyuk Revealed

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] PD Ahn Jun-young and CP Kim Yong-beom, who were prosecuted for vote manipulation in the Mnet 'Produce 101' series, have been sentenced to prison.

The Seoul High Court's 1st Criminal Division (Chief Judges Jeong Jun-young, Song Young-seung, Kang Sang-wook) on the morning of the 18th handed down sentences of 2 years and 1 year and 8 months in prison respectively to PD Ahn Jun-young and CP Kim Yong-beom for charges including fraud, consistent with the first trial. Assistant PD Lee also received a fine of 10 million won.

They were indicted on charges of manipulating paid text vote results from viewers to favor certain candidates during the live competitions of Mnet's idol singer audition program 'Produce 101' Seasons 1 to 4, which began in 2016.

PD Ahn Jun-young is also accused of receiving entertainment expenses worth millions of won at nightlife establishments from entertainment agency officials (breach of trust and bribery).

The court recognized the guilt of PD Ahn Jun-young and CP Kim Yong-beom in the first trial. The same sentences were handed down in the appeal trial following the first trial.

Kang Dong-ho / Photo by Mnet Produce 101 Season 2

Iga-eun / Photo by Mnet

Jinhyuk Lee / Photo by Mnet

The court disclosed the list of trainees who were eliminated due to vote manipulation, stating, "During the appeal trial process, the prosecution, defendants, and defense attorneys had sufficient time to verify it."

According to the list, Kim Su-hyun and Seo Hye-rim were eliminated due to manipulation of the first vote results in 'Produce 101' Season 1; Sung Hyun-woo was eliminated due to manipulation of the first vote results in Season 2; Kang Dong-ho was eliminated due to manipulation of the fourth vote results in Season 2.

In Season 3, Lee Ga-eun and Han Cho-won were eliminated due to manipulation of the fourth vote results; in Season 4, An Jardi Dimode was eliminated due to manipulation of the first vote; Kim Guk-heon and Lee Jin-woo were eliminated due to manipulation of the third vote results; and Gu Jeong-mo, Lee Jin-hyuk, and Geum Dong-hyun were eliminated due to manipulation of the fourth vote results.

The court said, "It was considered necessary to identify the affected trainees in order to provide compensation for damages. While material compensation is important, before that, it must be revealed that the defendants unfairly caused the affected trainees to be eliminated. This can be the starting point for compensation and can restore the fairness of the audition program."

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