Man sentenced to eight months in prison for threatening Shin Se-kyung

A man in his 30s was detained at the Seoul Eastern District Court on the 22nd of last month after being sentenced to eight months in prison for posting approximately 450 malicious and threatening comments against actress Shin Se-kyung and her family.

A malicious commenter in his 30s, who flooded actress Shin Se-kyung with hundreds of abusive posts and issued threats to harm her family, has been sentenced to prison in an appellate trial. After repeatedly making extreme threats, including mentioning an acid attack, the individual was ultimately detained in court. This criminal punishment for long-term cyberbullying conducted behind anonymity is increasing awareness regarding malicious online activities.

The agency The Present Company announced on the 2nd that "a malicious commenter who has engaged in continuous threats and malicious slander against our actress Shin Se-kyung was sentenced to eight months in prison and detained in court during the appellate trial held at the Seoul Eastern District Court on the 22nd of last month." The case involves cyberbullying that spanned several years, and the agency has been collecting evidence and pursuing legal action over a long period.

According to the appellate court ruling, the defendant repeatedly wrote hundreds of anonymous, contemptuous, and insulting posts targeting Shin Se-kyung over approximately two months. The posts were not limited to the actress alone; they also targeted her family with threatening content implying physical harm, including a threat to throw acid on Shin Se-kyung's face. It is reported that the threats and insulting posts totaled approximately 450.

The court heavily weighed the repetitive nature of the crimes, the level of the threats, and the psychological distress suffered by the victim. The ruling noted, "The victim had to carry out her activities amidst anxiety and fear that extreme and bizarre harm might be committed by the defendant, whose identity was unknown." The court pointed out that online posts are not merely sentences on a screen but can cause real fear regarding the victim's daily life and safety.

The defendant appealed for leniency, citing personal circumstances such as depression and expressions of remorse, but the court did not accept these pleas. The court noted that there was no legitimate motive for the crimes other than to attract the attention of netizens and express personal anger, and judged that the defendant did not sufficiently compensate for the mental shock and pain inflicted on the victim. Ultimately, the eight-month prison sentence was maintained in the appellate trial, and the defendant was detained in court.

This ruling is notable for holding judicial responsibility for cyberbullying that accompanied repeated threats, insults, and threats against family members beyond simple malicious comments. In particular, it demonstrates that the seriousness of a crime cannot be lightened simply because it was committed anonymously. It also serves as a reminder that while malicious posts against celebrities are a common phenomenon in online spaces, the fear and mental suffering endured by the targets are by no means light.

The agency explained that it has continuously monitored malicious posts and secured evidence over a long period. While there were practical difficulties during the investigation, fans actively reported materials, helping to prove the perpetrator's crimes and hold them legally accountable. The agency emphasized, "We will continue to respond firmly with a zero-tolerance policy against illegal acts that infringe upon the rights of our artists, such as threats, malicious slander, defamation, and insults," adding, "No matter how long it takes, we will track them down to the end and hold them legally accountable."

Kim Ji-ae, an attorney from Ascendant Yulbon Law Firm representing Shin Se-kyung, also highlighted the significance of this ruling. Attorney Kim evaluated it as a ruling where the judiciary confirmed that cyber terrorism, committed for the distorted purpose of attracting attention or relieving personal stress, can be a reason for significant imprisonment. She further explained that infringing upon another's personality and threatening their daily life while hiding behind online anonymity cannot be justified, and that criminal punishment, as well as civil liability for damages, may follow depending on the severity of the crime.

The agency expressed gratitude to the fans who continuously collected and reported materials, stating that this result is the fruit of a long-term response alongside fans. The agency maintains a policy of responding firmly to illegal acts that infringe upon the personality rights of its artists. It is difficult to dismiss malicious comments as mere expressions of opinion or emotional venting because, once repeated, they can transform into acts that threaten a person's reputation, safety, and daily life.

Shin Se-kyung is scheduled to appear in her next work, the TVING original drama 'Love Virus'. Produced by CJ ENM STUDIOS and Studio Phoenix, this romance drama tells the story of a couple of nine years, who are each other's first romantic partners, as they take a so-called 'break time' to meet new people to ensure they leave no lingering feelings for other genders before marriage. Shin Se-kyung will star alongside Jung Hae-in, playing the role of Kang Chae-rin, a dental associate physician and the long-time first love and girlfriend of Ha Do-woon (Jung Hae-in).

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