The South Korean Supreme Court has confirmed a seven-year prison sentence for a female broadcast jockey (BJ), identified as Ms. A, who was convicted of extorting 840 million KRW (approximately $610,000), from singer and musical actor Kim Junsu over a four-year period.
On May 1, the Seoul High Court’s Criminal Division 10-1 sentenced Ms. A to seven years in prison for violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes related to extortion. Ms. A submitted an appeal against the appellate court's decision. However, the Supreme Court’s Third Division rejected the appeal, finalizing the ruling.
Ms. A had been active on the video streaming platform Soop, formerly known as AfreecaTV. She was indicted for extorting money from Kim Junsu on 101 separate occasions between September 2020 and October 2024. Investigators revealed that she had recorded private conversations with Kim and threatened to release them on social media if he did not pay her.
In the initial trial, Ms. A’s defense argued that she had been addicted to propofol, which impaired her judgment, and claimed she committed the crimes under financial distress while trying to fund her drug use. Her legal team appealed for leniency by stating that she regretted her actions and that part of the money went toward her father's medical expenses, as he was battling prostate cancer.
Ms. A also made a personal statement in court, expressing deep remorse. She said that she felt her life was over after bringing shame to her family and added that watching her family visit her in detention caused her great pain. She described her decisions as foolish and shameful and submitted two letters of apology to the court prior to the second trial.
The Uijeongbu District Court’s Criminal Division 1 initially sentenced Ms. A to seven years in prison, which aligned with the sentence requested by the prosecution. Both the defendant and the prosecution filed appeals, but the high court maintained the original ruling.
The court explained that Ms. A had decided to use recordings and photos from her private relationship with the victim to demand money after their relationship became strained. The court noted that she had committed the crime 101 times over four years, extorting 840 million KRW (approximately $610,000), and described her actions as particularly serious in light of the method and duration of the crime.
During the second trial, prosecutors again sought a seven-year sentence and requested that the appeal be dismissed. Ms. A’s lawyer reiterated her deep remorse and said she had no intention of repeating her actions. The lawyer also asked the court to consider Ms. A’s unstable mental and financial state, adding that her father's illness had prevented him from supporting her recovery.
In her final statement, Ms. A offered a sincere apology to Kim Junsu and acknowledged the emotional and financial damage she caused. She explained that she had been struggling with severe depression, insomnia, and panic disorder, which led to her addiction to propofol. She said she had made efforts to reconcile with the victim and had written letters of apology. She also pledged never to repeat the crime and said she hoped to work in healthcare to help people like her father.
The presiding judge questioned Ms. A about whether she had sent threatening letters to Kim Junsu. Ms. A admitted to sending a letter but denied it was meant as a threat. When asked whether she had been indicted for retaliatory threats, Ms. A said she had not received the indictment. She also admitted to handing over one of the recordings to a journalist two years ago.
The court stated that the crime was extremely serious, considering the duration, the method used, and the amount extorted. The victim had reported suffering from extreme stress and depression due to the ongoing threats. The court also ordered the forfeiture of two mobile devices used during the crime to prevent further harm.
Following the incident, Kim Junsu commented that he blamed himself and has since avoided non-business interactions with others. He said he was, in a way, thankful to Ms. A for helping him reach that realization.
His agency, PALMTREE ISLAND, also issued a statement. They revealed that Ms. A had illegally recorded private conversations and used them to threaten Kim Junsu with public exposure on social media. They emphasized that although Kim Junsu was not at fault, even a single false report could damage a celebrity's image. As a result, he has been unable to appear on broadcasts, and his reputation has suffered greatly. They added that Ms. A continued her threats by stating that she had nothing to lose.
SEE ALSO: Junsu joins Hope Bridge Honors Club, donating over 100 million KRW (~74,000 USD)
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