Prosecutors have filed an appeal after A, the operator of the YouTube channel Taldeoksooyongso (Camp for Abandoning Fans), received a suspended sentence in the first trial for maliciously defaming celebrities, including Jang Won-young of the girl group IVE, and spreading fake news.
On the 21st, the Incheon District Prosecutors’ Office announced that it had submitted an appeal against the first trial’s decision, which sentenced A to two years in prison with a three-year suspension for defamation and insult under the Information and Communications Network Act.
Last October, during the final hearing, the prosecution had sought a four-year prison term and a fine of approximately 200 million won. Prosecutors stated, “The defendant committed severe crimes that inflicted irreparable harm on the victims and earned significant profits exceeding 200 million won. Considering the numerous victims and the lack of forgiveness from them, we decided to appeal.”
They added, “The prosecution remains committed to responding firmly to malicious content creators, often referred to as ‘cyber wreckers,’ and will do its utmost to protect citizens from such crimes.”
A was indicted for posting 23 defamatory videos on YouTube from October 2021 to June last year, targeting Jang Won-young and six other celebrities. The charges also included 19 instances of insulting content against five individuals and disrupting the business operations of their agencies.
A’s YouTube channel reportedly had around 60,000 subscribers, generating an average monthly profit of approximately 10 million won from these videos. The total revenue amassed from the content is estimated to be 250 million won.