"Criminal Sentenced to 3 Years"... 'Mention of Other YouTuber's Sex Crime' Gujeok's Fine Confirmed

[Financial News] YouTuber Gujeok (real name Lee Junhee), who was brought to trial for disclosing the criminal record of another YouTuber's sex crime, has been confirmed to receive a fine.
According to the legal community on the 10th, the Supreme Court's 1st Division (Presiding Judge Ma Yongju) confirmed the original judgment of a fine of 3 million won for Mr. Lee, who was indicted for violating the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection (defamation).
In 2020, Mr. Lee was brought to trial for defaming YouTuber A by mentioning on his YouTube channel that A was a "criminal sentenced to 3 years for a sex crime."
The prosecution summarily indicted Mr. Lee for a fine of 3 million won, but Mr. Lee's side objected and requested a formal trial.
Both the first and second trials sentenced a fine of 3 million won. Mr. Lee's side argued that the video was posted for the public interest and that there was no intent or purpose of slander, but this was not accepted.
The second trial court pointed out, "Although it seems to have contributed to some extent to public discussion, the degree of harm to the victim by disclosing the victim's personal information is significantly large," and "It does not seem necessary to disclose the victim's personal information."
Furthermore, "Despite receiving an injunction to delete the video, a video with the same intent was posted, and the degree of harm to the victim seems very large as the facts were announced to an unspecified number of people," and "The original judgment that recognized the defendant's act as guilty by rejecting the defendant's claim that there was no purpose of slander as it was in line with the public interest is justified."
Mr. Lee appealed the judgment, but the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, seeing no error in the original judgment.
Meanwhile, Mr. Lee is currently serving a 3-year prison sentence in the second trial after being sentenced in the first trial for extorting money by threatening YouTuber Tzuyang (real name Park Jeongwon).

jisseo@fnnews.com Seo Minji Reporter