Group sentenced to probation for extorting money from Tzuyang... Court says 'serious crime'

[Financial News] Two women who extorted over 200 million won from YouTuber Tzuyang (real name Park Jeong-won) through threats have been sentenced to probation.
The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 12 (Judge Gu Chang-gyu) sentenced Kim Mo and Song Mo, who were charged with joint blackmail under the Punishment of Violence Act, to 1 year and 6 months in prison with a 4-year probation, and 2 years in prison with a 4-year probation, respectively.
The court stated, "The crime period was long, and the extorted amount was large, making the crime serious," and added, "Song committed additional blackmail after the agreement was reached, making the crime very serious."
However, "The defendants admitted to the crime and expressed their intention to apologize through the victim's representative from the investigation stage, and they compensated for the excess amount of the extorted money during the investigation stage to reach an agreement," the court said. "They made efforts to recover the victim, and the victim does not want the defendants to be punished. Considering the favorable circumstances despite the seriousness of the crime, the court decided to grant leniency through probation," the court ruled.
They were accused of threatening Tzuyang from June 2021 to November 2022, extorting a total of 216 million won over 38 occasions through Tzuyang's YouTube channel PD. Tzuyang revealed in a YouTube video last July, "Three years ago, the former agency's representative (former boyfriend) mentioned these two women, saying '(the women) are threatening.' He suggested silencing them with my money, and the PD had to meet them on my behalf, paying 216 million won over two years."
Earlier, the prosecution requested a sentence of 1 year in prison for each, stating, "The extorted amount is significant and the crime is not minor, but both have confessed to the crime and are reflecting, and they have reached an amicable agreement with the victim."
Kim said, "I admit all charges and want to apologize to the victim," and Song also appealed for leniency, saying, "I deeply regret it and will never do such a thing again."

theknight@fnnews.com Jung Kyung-soo, Choi Eun-sol reporters