'Drug Investigation Cover-up and Threat Charges' Yang Hyun-seok, Appeal Trial Begins on the 12th

Suspect in BI Investigation Cover-up Threatens Whistleblower
Acquitted in First Trial, First Appeal Hearing Scheduled for 12th

The appeal trial of former YG Entertainment CEO Yang Hyun-suk, who was indicted on charges of threatening a whistleblower to cover up a drug investigation involving former member B.I (real name Kim Han-bin) of the group 'iKON', is set to begin this week.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the court on the 9th, the Seoul High Court Criminal Division 6-3 (Presiding Judges Lee Eui-young, Won Jong-chan, Park Won-cheol) will hold the first hearing of Yang's appeal trial at 11:30 a.m. on the 12th. He is charged with violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (retaliatory threats, etc.).

Yang was prosecuted on charges of persuading and threatening Mr. A, who was arrested by the police in 2016 on drug use charges and testified about B.I’s drug use, in order to cover up the related investigation.

Mr. A, who was a trainee singer, testified about suspicions of B.I’s drug use during an investigation into his own drug use charges in 2016 but later retracted his statement. In June 2019, Mr. A reported to the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission that he changed his testimony due to external pressure from YG.

In response, the Commission handed over related materials to the prosecution in 2020, and the prosecution indicted four people including B.I and former CEO Yang. Mr. A was not included among those indicted. At the first trial’s sentencing hearing, the prosecution requested a three-year prison sentence for Yang.

However, in December last year, the first trial court acquitted Yang, acknowledging the possibility of criticism of his actions but citing a lack of credibility in Mr. A’s testimony and the expectation of compensation such as money after the retraction of the statement. A former YG employee who was indicted alongside Yang was also acquitted.

Immediately after the first trial verdict, Yang expressed respect for the court’s decision and stated, "I will do my best in my original position."

The prosecution filed an appeal against the first trial verdict.

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