Famous internet streamer BJ (Broadcast Jockey) Seya, who was charged with drug use, has been sentenced to prison again in the second trial.
On October 29, the Seoul High Court’s Criminal Division 6-3 (Presiding Judges Lee Yesul, Jeong Jaeo, and Choi Eunjeong) sentenced BJ Seya to two years in prison and ordered 40 hours of drug addiction treatment for violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, among other charges.
This sentence is a reduction from the first trial, which handed down a prison term of three years and six months. In the second trial, BJ Seya was acquitted of the charge of possessing ketamine.
BJ Seya claimed he was unaware of the small amount of ketamine found at his residence in October 2023.
The court accepted this claim, stating, "From the investigation stage, the defendant voluntarily surrendered, and it does not appear that he fabricated this part of the story. It also seems possible that the ketamine found at his residence was leftover from a previous use."
However, BJ Seya was still found guilty of long-term, large-quantity drug use, as in the first trial.
The court noted, "Crimes involving narcotics are highly addictive and hallucinogenic, posing risks not only to the individual but also to public safety. The defendant has a significant level of drug dependence, and his ability to abstain on his own appears limited."
At the same time, the court considered mitigating factors, such as BJ Seya’s willingness to undergo treatment and the absence of prior convictions exceeding fines.
BJ Seya has been active on AfreecaTV since 2008. In March 2023, he admitted to using drugs during a live broadcast and turned himself in to the police. He was arrested and formally charged in October of last year.
He is accused of purchasing and using or smoking drugs, including ketamine, ecstasy, and marijuana, worth approximately 150 million KRW (approx. 105,262 USD) from June 2021 to August 2023, and of receiving drugs from a former gangster-turned-YouTuber to use with acquaintances at his home.
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