"Famous BJ Threatened Ex-Girlfriend with 'Privacy Exposure'... Heavy Sentence Requested After Victim's Death"

1st Trial: 1 Year Prison Sentence with 2 Years Probation
Prosecution Seeks 5 Years Prison Sentence in Appeal Trial

The prosecution demanded a heavier sentence than the first trial in the appellate trial of a famous internet broadcaster (BJ) who threatened his ex-girlfriend, whom he dated for two months, by saying he would "expose her private life."

On the 14th, at the appellate sentencing hearing held by the 1-3 Criminal Appeals Division of the Incheon District Court (Chief Judge Lee Soo-min), the prosecution demanded 5 years in prison for BJ A (40), who was indicted on charges including defamation and attempted coercion under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection.

A was non-custodially indicted on charges of threatening B, his ex-girlfriend, by announcing on his AfreecaTV personal broadcast in May 2020 that he would expose B's private life. He is accused of committing these crimes after being notified of their breakup following about two months of dating and continuing to demand to meet her.

A wrote false reports claiming "he was subjected to dating violence by B" and sent emails to reporters from 30 media outlets, as well as posting similar content on the internet bulletin board of the company where B worked. A is known as a BJ in the finance and investment field with a cumulative viewer count exceeding 3 million.

Incheon District Prosecutors' Office
Photo by Yonhap News

At the first trial sentencing hearing held in February last year, A was sentenced to 1 year in prison with a 2-year probation and appealed. At that time, the prosecution demanded 3 years in prison. Since the Stalking Punishment Act had not yet been enforced during the first trial, charges under that law were not applied. About 20 days after the first trial sentencing, B was taken to the emergency room due to an overdose of medication, remained unconscious in a nursing hospital, and eventually passed away in September last year.

In the first trial court, A claimed, "There was no fact of threatening the victim, so the charge of attempted coercion does not apply." However, the first trial court's judgment was different. The court ruled that "the content A threatened to expose was intimate information known only between lovers," and recognized the charges of threat and defamation. Regarding sentencing, the court explained, "However, considering that A has no prior criminal record exceeding a fine."

After A was given a suspended sentence in the first trial, Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok reportedly instructed the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office to thoroughly prepare for the appellate trial. At the appellate sentencing hearing, the prosecution pointed out, "A threatened the victim out of revenge and hatred, forced her to continue the relationship, and sent false report emails to reporters," adding, "The victim was shocked by A's crimes, which led to her death, causing irreparable serious harm and wounds to the victim's family." The prosecution also stated, "The bereaved family is pleading for severe punishment of the defendant," and explained the reason for the demand, saying, "Considering that the defendant does not show remorse for the crime, the sentence was demanded according to the Supreme Court sentencing guidelines."

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