'Illegal Access to BBQ Internal Network' Former bhc Chairman Park Hyunjong Also Guilty in Second Trial

6 Months Imprisonment with 2 Years Probation

Former bhc chairman Park Hyun-jong, who was prosecuted for illegally accessing the internal computer network of competing chicken franchise company BBQ, received a suspended prison sentence in the second trial as well.

The Seoul Eastern District Court Criminal Appeal Division 1-1 (Chief Judge Jang Chan) on the 22nd sentenced Park, who was charged with violating the Information and Communications Network Act and the Personal Information Protection Act, to 6 months in prison with a 2-year suspension, the same as in the first trial.

Former bhc Chairman Hyun-Jong Park. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The court stated, "This case involves Park directly hacking into the computer network by unfair means to obtain favorable materials during the international arbitration lawsuit between bhc and BBQ, which is a serious offense," and added, "Park denies the charges and does not show remorse, and he has not been forgiven by BBQ," explaining the sentencing decision.

Park is accused of accessing BBQ's internal computer network on July 3, 2015, at bhc headquarters office in Songpa-gu, Seoul, by stealing the IDs and passwords of two support staff members from BBQ's finance team.

During the trial, Park's side denied the charges, stating, "There was no intention to access BBQ's internal network, and in fact, there was no actual access."

Previously, Park was sentenced to 6 months in prison with a 2-year suspension in the first trial but appealed. The prosecution demanded the same sentence of 1 year in prison as in the first trial during the appeal.

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