4-year sentence sought for 'cyber wrecker' over defamation of K-pop stars Jang Won-young, Karina

The operator of the YouTube channel "Taldeok Prison Camp" (in black attire), who was charged with the defamation of K-pop star Kang Daniel, leaves the Seoul Central District Court after being sentenced to a fine of 10 million won during the first trial on Sept. 11. Newsis

Prosecutors have requested a four-year prison sentence for the operator of the YouTube channel "Taldeok Prison Camp," also known as Sojang, for spreading false news about K-pop stars Jang Won-young of IVE and Karina of aespa, during the case's first trial.

At the sentencing hearing at the Incheon District Court, prosecutors charged the "cyber wrecker," Park, 36, with defamation and insult under the Information and Communications Network Act, while also requesting the court to impose a fine of approximately 200 million won ($150,000) for the profit she made from her videos.

Park was indicted for posting 23 videos that contained falsehoods between October 2021 and June 2022, defaming seven public figures, including Jang Won-young, Karina and Suho from K-pop boy group EXO.

She also posted 19 videos insulting five of these individuals and interfered with the operations of their respective agencies. Her YouTube channel had about 60,000 subscribers, and her earnings from the videos reportedly reached 250 million won.

Park admitted to all charges but claimed her actions were "based on indirect intent." In court, she presented a handwritten letter of apology, saying, "I was living in my own world on the internet and couldn’t make proper judgments. I've been consumed with guilt and remorse." She pleaded for leniency.

The operator of YouTube channel, "Taldeok Prison Camp" / Yonhap

Identified through US ‘discovery’ process

Starship Entertainment, representing Jang Won-young, pursued civil and criminal lawsuits against the YouTube operator, Sojang, including legal action abroad.

To reveal Park’s identity, lawyer Jeong Kyung-seong, representing Jang, utilized the U.S. legal "discovery" process by filing an information disclosure request with the U.S. District Court in Northern California, where Google’s headquarters are located.

The discovery process requires parties in a lawsuit to disclose relevant documents or evidence, including from third parties like Google. As a result, Google provided the necessary information, marking a rare instance where YouTube disclosed the personal details of a channel operator.

In January, the Seoul Central District Court ruled partially in favor of Jang in a civil lawsuit, awarding 100 million won in damages. Park has since filed an appeal and requested a stay of enforcement. Despite attempts at settlement, both parties failed to reach an agreement.

Additionally, Park received a 10 million won fine in a separate defamation case filed by singer Kang Daniel.

Park is currently facing lawsuits from several other artists and agencies, including BTS members V and Jung Kook, aespa, EXO’s Suho and SM Entertainment.

The sentencing hearing for Park is scheduled to take place on Dec. 18.

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