
A woman in her 30s has been sentenced to prison for repeatedly posting threatening and defamatory messages online targeting actress Shin Se Kyung.
According to legal sources on July 4, the Seoul Eastern District Court's Criminal Division 3, presided over by Judge Lee Ho Dong, sentenced the defendant, Ms. Kim (35), to eight months in prison on July 2 on charges of intimidation and defamation.
Ms. Kim was indicted for writing approximately 450 posts containing threats and insults directed at Shin on online forums, including Shin Se Kyung’s fan board and various drama-related boards on the website DC Inside, between June 3 and August 14 of last year.
The court ruling stated that the posts included threats of acid attacks as well as sexually explicit and derogatory remarks about Shin’s appearance and family.
"The defendant wrote numerous insulting and harmful messages about the victim, a well-known celebrity, without any apparent reason, causing the victim significant emotional distress," the court noted. "The victim has strongly appealed for a severe punishment."
However, the court also took into account that Ms. Kim appeared not to have had any genuine intent to carry out physical harm. The prosecution had originally sought a two-year prison sentence.
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