Prosecutors have once again requested a prison sentence for the female operator of the YouTube channel Taldeok Sooyongso (“Rehabilitation Center for Former Fans”), who earned hundreds of thousands of dollars by posting defamatory videos about celebrities including IVE’s Jang Wonyoung.
On October 16, the Incheon District Court’s Criminal Appellate Division 1-3, presided over by Chief Judge Jang Min Seok, held the first appeal hearing and closing arguments for the 37-year-old defendant, referred to as A, who was charged with defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act.
In the first trial, she was sentenced to two years in prison with three years of probation, 120 hours of community service, and was ordered to forfeit more than 200 million KRW (approximately 141,000 USD). Both the defendant and the prosecution appealed the ruling, the former arguing that the sentence was too heavy and the latter claiming it was too light.
During the appeal hearing, prosecutors asked the court to impose a four-year prison sentence, the same punishment sought during the first trial.
The defense argued that she had deeply realized the seriousness of her offense and the pain inflicted on the victims after facing widespread criticism from the public and the media. The defense added that she had voluntarily deleted the YouTube channel and deposited compensation money before the first verdict, claiming the original sentence was not excessively lenient.
In her final statement, she said, “I created videos based on online posts and comments, believing I was fulfilling the public’s right to know. Now I clearly understand how wrong that was.”
She continued, “Since the incident, my personal information has been exposed, and I have lived under public stigma. I am receiving psychiatric treatment and struggling to get through each day. Please give me one last chance to reflect on my mistakes and live as a responsible member of society.”
The appellate court’s final ruling is scheduled for November 11 in the same courtroom.
According to the indictment, between October 2021 and June 2023, she uploaded 23 videos defaming seven celebrities and influencers, including Jang Wonyoung, on Taldeok Sooyongso. The channel also featured 19 videos that mocked or insulted the appearance of five of the victims.
Investigations revealed that she earned approximately 250 million KRW (around 176,055 USD) over a two-year period from operating the channel.
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