Outside of the courthouse on the day of the hearing, her mother stood in front of the cameras and bowed her head as she said, "As it is my daughter's crime, it is also my crime, and I will reflect with her... Although we do feel wronged about some aspects of the verdict, on the actual blackmail and threats, I am sorry about it. I am sorry if we have caused any further harm to Lee Byung Hun while trying to prove our own claims."
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After the trial, one of the media outlets also held and interview with the mother to ask her further about what she had meant when she said she was sorry.
She explained, "All this time, I did not speak with the media because I was afraid I could say something wrong and it would influence the verdict my daughter would receive. But what I said, about being sorry for causing such trouble, is sincere. Ji Yeon is reflecting on her actions and I'm also reflecting with her."
When asked about what she had thought when all this came to light and they started preparing for trial last year, she commented, "I was really shocked. I thought my daughter's actions were stupid, but I also condemned the actions of [Lee Byung Hun], who is only three years younger than I am."
On whether they felt any regrets about the verdict that was given, the model's mother said, "Yes, there are regrets. What's most regretful is that the court had ruled that the blackmailing had been premediated. It was [Lee Byung Hun] who approached my daughter first. He was the one who kept telling Ji Yeon that he wanted to come over to her house and sent her selcas and kept in contact with her. I think my daughter, during that time, had misunderstood and thought that this world star thought her to be someone special. But in the end, Lee Byung Hun insisted that they did not have any special relationship and it was ruled that way. However, I'm really curious as to why a man, and a married man at that, continued to visit my daughter and asked her for sexual favors if they had no special relationship."
The mother also revealed that she visits her daughter everyday at the jail she's currently held even though it is a 5-hour roundtrip from her home.
When asked if her daughter says anything about the case, her mother stated, "Because it's such a painful topic, she doesn't really talk about it. I don't know if it's because her father is currently battling cancer, but she just tells me 'don't worry about me, I'm fine.'"
On whether they were thinking of appealing the verdict, the mother revealed that they are unsure. "We have to decide after we consult with our lawyer. We already submitted the best evidence that we could during the trial already, but they did not have much of an effect in the ruling. So we're still thinking over whether we should appeal."
The media outlet then asked her if she had any final words she wanted to say to Lee Byung Hun. Lee Ji Yeon's mother said, "I'm someone who has a daughter. I'm also someone who has to reveal the truth. So if you suffered any additional harm during this process while we set out to reveal our side of the truth, I'm sorry. It seems you and Lee Min Jung are spending a happily wedded life. But remember that you are a married man. I hope that another case like my daughter will not come about. Please, don't make a second and third who end up like my daughter. Please don't do that."
The mother also mentioned her final feelings on all that's happened by saying, "I advised my daughter, who dreamed of being a celebrity, from the start to not take any money offered by anyone, even if it's from the agency, so that she may not find herself in a bad situation. So I'm really upset that this all happened. When she comes out [from prison], I will scold her and I will teach her right," as she shed tears.
As mentioned before, Lee Ji Yeon received a prison sentence of 1 year and 2 months, while her accomplice Dahee received one year.
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