A YouTuber who spread false information about Jang Won Young, a popular K-pop group IVE member, has been handed a suspended sentence for defamation.
On Wednesday, Judge Kim Saet Byeol of the Incheon District Court sentenced the operator of a “Taldeok Prison Camp” YouTube channel to two years in prison, suspended for three years. The individual was convicted of defamation and insults under South Korea’s Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection. The court also ordered the defendant to pay the victims approximately 200 million won (around $137,000) in restitution.
Kim emphasized the severity of the crime, saying, “Defamation causes irreparable harm to victims, and as such, it must be severely punished. The defendant repeatedly defamed a well-known celebrity and posted provocative content on YouTube, which generated substantial profits, further aggravating the offense.”
However, the judge acknowledged some mitigating factors. “The defendant has admitted to their actions, shown remorse, and had the opportunity to reflect on their behavior, especially given the media attention the case has garnered,” Kim continued. “Taking into account the defendant’s compensation of 20 million won (approximately $13,700) to Jang Won Young and a total of 60 million won (around $41,100) to the other victims, I have decided on this sentence.”
The individual was charged with defamation for posting 23 false videos between October 2021 and June 2022. These videos targeted seven celebrities, including Jang Won Young. Of these, 19 videos contained insulting content about five celebrities, and the YouTuber was also accused of interfering with their agencies’ operations.
At the time, the YouTube channel had around 60,000 subscribers, and the videos generated an average monthly income of approximately 10 million won (around $6,850). The channel earned an estimated 250 million won (about $171,300) from the defamatory videos.
The YouTuber’s tactics involved creating and posting sensationalized, fake videos that contained malicious slander against several victims. To increase their impact, these videos used voice manipulation and editing techniques. The channel also operated on a tiered paid membership system, profiting from the defamatory content.