Two-year term sought for cyberbully targeting actor Shin Sae-kyeong

Actor Shin Sae-kyeong / Captured from her Instagram

Prosecutors have requested a two-year prison sentence for a defendant accused of persistently harassing actor Shin Sae-kyeong online over the course of several years.

Shin’s agency, The Present Company, issued a statement Thursday saying that the defendant had been indicted for continuous cyberbullying and that prosecutors had formally sought the prison term during the ongoing trial.

According to the agency, the defendant engaged in anonymous harassment through online platforms by directing threats, malicious slander, false rumors and abusive language not only at the actress but also at her fans, family members and acquaintances. The prolonged behavior inflicted emotional distress on both Shin and those around her.

The individual was arrested by police and is now awaiting a first-instance ruling. During trial proceedings, the defendant’s legal representative appealed for leniency, stating that the accused had been living in seclusion and was now attempting to reintegrate into society by working a part-time job. The defendant admitted to all charges.

However, prosecutors, citing the repeated nature and severity of the threats and malicious comments, requested a sentence of two years in prison.

The Present Company made clear that it would not consider leniency in this case. “We have collected extensive evidence of additional malicious posts and intend to respond to all similar cases with the same firm standard,” the agency said.

“Protecting the legal rights of our artists and staff is our top priority. We will take all legal action necessary to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable, no matter how long it takes,” it said.

The agency added that it is committed to preventing innocent people from suffering due to “the distorted desires of a few,” and expressed gratitude to fans for providing crucial reports that helped build the case.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.