A nightclub manager and a former actress who blackmailed the late actor Lee Sun-kyun out of more than 300 million Korean won (approximately $225,000) were sentenced on appeal to harsher penalties than the original verdict.
On July 16, the Third Circuit Court of Criminal Appeals at the Incheon District Court (presided over by Judge Choi Sung-bae) issued its ruling on the appeal, sentencing “A,” the nightclub manager, to five years and six months in prison, overturning the original sentence of three years and six months.
“B,” the former actress accused of the same charges, had her original sentence of four years and two months overturned, and the court sentenced her to six years and six months in prison.
The court stated in its ruling against “A” that she “demanded an amount from the victim that exceeded even what the second defendant (B) had demanded, even though the victim trusted her. She blackmailed the victim and caused him extreme fear, and when rumors and media reports began to emerge, the victim chose to end his life. It is undeniable that the defendant played a role in the cause of death. The family is still suffering severe pain, and the damage has not been addressed. The court’s observations after her release on bail revealed that she showed no genuine remorse.”
As for defendant “B,” the court stated: “She exploited the victim’s involvement in a drug case to blackmail a famous actor, but she failed. When she did not receive a share of the money from the other defendant, she attempted the blackmail herself. She used several fake SIM cards and claimed to be a hacker, making her actions extremely heinous. She recklessly used every available means to achieve her goal. It is undeniable that she instilled fear in the victim and led to his tragic end.”
In September 2023, “A” contacted Lee Sun-kyun, claiming that her phone had been hacked and that she was receiving threats. She demanded 300 million won as “silence money.” She was arrested and prosecuted.
During the investigation, it was revealed that the person claiming to be a hacker was actually “B,” a former actress. After learning of “A’s” drug use and her close relationship with Lee Sun-kyun, she used fake SIM cards and impersonated the hacker to blackmail him. After failing to obtain the money through “A,” she herself blackmailed Lee Sun-kyun for 100 million won in October 2023, eventually extracting 50 million won from him.
A nightclub manager and a former actress who blackmailed the late actor Lee Sun-kyun out of more than 300 million Korean won (approximately $225,000) were sentenced on appeal to harsher penalties than the original verdict.
On July 16, the Third Circuit Court of Criminal Appeals at the Incheon District Court (presided over by Judge Choi Sung-bae) issued its ruling on the appeal, sentencing “A,” the nightclub manager, to five years and six months in prison, overturning the original sentence of three years and six months.
“B,” the former actress accused of the same charges, had her original sentence of four years and two months overturned, and the court sentenced her to six years and six months in prison.
The court stated in its ruling against “A” that she “demanded an amount from the victim that exceeded even what the second defendant (B) had demanded, even though the victim trusted her. She blackmailed the victim and caused him extreme fear, and when rumors and media reports began to emerge, the victim chose to end his life. It is undeniable that the defendant played a role in the cause of death. The family is still suffering severe pain, and the damage has not been addressed. The court’s observations after her release on bail revealed that she showed no genuine remorse.”
As for defendant “B,” the court stated: “She exploited the victim’s involvement in a drug case to blackmail a famous actor, but she failed. When she did not receive a share of the money from the other defendant, she attempted the blackmail herself. She used several fake SIM cards and claimed to be a hacker, making her actions extremely heinous. She recklessly used every available means to achieve her goal. It is undeniable that she instilled fear in the victim and led to his tragic end.”
In September 2023, “A” contacted Lee Sun-kyun, claiming that her phone had been hacked and that she was receiving threats. She demanded 300 million won as “silence money.” She was arrested and prosecuted.
During the investigation, it was revealed that the person claiming to be a hacker was actually “B,” a former actress. After learning of “A’s” drug use and her close relationship with Lee Sun-kyun, she used fake SIM cards and impersonated the hacker to blackmail him. After failing to obtain the money through “A,” she herself blackmailed Lee Sun-kyun for 100 million won in October 2023, eventually extracting 50 million won from him.
