A BJ from AfreecaTV has been sentenced to a heavy prison term for extorting hundreds of millions of won from singer and musical actor Kim Junsu (Xiah Junsu) through threats.
According to the legal community on the 24th, the Supreme Court's 3rd Division (Chief Justice Lee Heung-gu) confirmed the original sentence of 7 years in prison for a woman in her 30s, referred to as A, who was indicted for violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (extortion).
Previously, A, who worked as an internet broadcaster on AfreecaTV, is accused of recording private conversations with Kim Junsu from September 2020 to October 2024 and threatening to distribute them on social media, extorting a total of 840 million won over 101 instances.
During the first trial, A claimed in her final statement, “I was addicted to propofol, which impaired my rational judgment, and I believe I committed the crime to fund my drug use,” and added, “Since being incarcerated, I have been reflecting on my wrongdoings every day.”
However, the court stated, “Considering the method of the crime, the duration, and the amount of damage caused by using the victim's weaknesses to threaten, the nature of the crime is very serious,” and noted that “the victim has suffered mental damage and is requesting severe punishment,” thus sentencing her to 7 years in prison.
The second trial also sentenced A to 7 years in prison and ordered the additional confiscation of one mobile phone and one smartphone among the seized electronic information. The appellate court stated, “If the seized items used in the crime are returned to the defendant, there is a concern for further damage.”
After the incident became known, last November, Kim Junsu's agency, Palm Tree Island, stated, “Despite being a clear victim, Kim Junsu has been embroiled in unfair rumors as the essence of the case has been distorted,” and added, “Further secondary damage and malicious speculation must cease.”
Additionally, they emphasized the unfairness of the illegal recording, stating, “The recording files used by A are merely private conversations and do not contain any misleading content,” and reiterated, “In this incident, Kim Junsu is a clear victim.”
[Ji Seung-hoon, Star Today Reporter]
