A group that allegedly blackmailed a famous South Korean singer, threatening to leak private photos obtained from the singer’s old mobile phone unless paid 500 million KRW (about $353,000), has been indicted and will face trial.

According to the legal community on the 16th, the Criminal Division 7 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kwon Sung Hee) indicted a man surnamed Hong on April 11 for charges of joint blackmail under the Act on the Punishment of Violent Acts.

Hong is accused of obtaining a mobile phone previously used by the singer and, together with two accomplices, threatening to leak personal data and private photos stored on the device unless the singer paid 500 million KRW (about $353,000) in cash.

The group reportedly managed to extort around 100 million (approximately $70,487) from the singer before being caught.

The investigation began after the singer’s management company reported the blackmail to the police. Hong was arrested on March 17 in Yangpyeong County, Gyeonggi Province. Following further investigation, prosecutors formally charged and detained Hong.

One of the accomplices, a man surnamed Kwon, who was already in custody for a separate case, has also been indicted. A third accomplice, referred to as 'A,' is still under investigation, with prosecutors requesting supplementary investigation from the police to confirm the facts.

It has also been revealed that one of the suspects told investigators he had previously been a member of a notorious organized crime group.

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