An individual, referred to as A, who has been leaving malicious comments targeting actress Shin Se-kyung for several years, has been sentenced to 8 months in prison.
According to legal sources on the 5th, the court recently ruled against A, who was charged with defamation and threats, stating, "The crimes were repetitive and premeditated, and the level of threats was high, causing significant harm to society," and thus imposed a prison sentence.
A used an anonymous account to threaten Shin Se-kyung with acid attacks and wrote content that demeaned her physically and sexually. It was also confirmed that A repeatedly posted insulting expressions and threatening messages not only about Shin Se-kyung but also about her family, acquaintances, and fans.
The prolonged and repeated malicious insults and threats caused mental suffering equivalent to physical violence. The court deemed this a clear crime.
In particular, this ruling is an unusual case where a prison sentence was handed down in a cyberbullying matter involving a public figure, and it is expected to be a significant turning point in protecting not only celebrities but also victims of online crimes.
Shin Se-kyung's agency, The Present Company, stated, "As soon as we recognized the damage to our artist, we took several official warnings and legal actions considering the seriousness of the matter, but the abusive behavior did not stop and rather escalated, leading to this criminal complaint."
They further emphasized, "This ruling will serve as a significant legal precedent warning about the seriousness of cyber violence, going beyond just an issue concerning one actor."
Additionally, the agency stated, "The severity of the crime is merely a difference in the level of punishment, and the moment someone inflicts mental pain on another with malicious intent, they already bear the responsibility as an offender," and emphasized that "hiding behind anonymity to threaten someone's life or defame their honor is a clear crime not protected by freedom of expression."
They also expressed, "The perpetrator will inevitably bear legal responsibility corresponding to their actions, regardless of how much time it takes, and we will respond firmly using all legal means in the event of similar actions in the future, with no leniency whatsoever."
[Kim Mi-ji, Star Today Reporter]
