"Jang Won-young Was Jealous" — YouTuber 'Sojang' Who Earned 200 Million Won From Defamatory Videos Given Suspended Prison Sentence, Ruling Finalized

[The Financial News] The Supreme Court of Korea has finalized a suspended prison sentence for the YouTuber behind "Sojang," who uploaded malicious fake videos defaming celebrities including Ive member Jang Won-young and earned hundreds of millions of won in the process.
On the 29th, according to legal sources, the Second Division of the Supreme Court of Korea, presided over by Justice Kwon Young-jun, upheld the lower court ruling that sentenced 37-year-old YouTuber A to two years in prison, suspended for three years, on charges including defamation and insult under the Information and Communications Network Act.
The court also maintained an order for the forfeiture of 210 million won and 120 hours of community service.
From October 2021 to June 2023, A ran the YouTube channel "Sojang" and was indicted on charges including defamation for posting 23 videos that disparaged seven public figures, such as entertainers and influencers.
Prosecutors said A produced and distributed videos containing false claims such as, "Jang Won-young was jealous and caused a fellow trainee’s debut to fall through," and that "other celebrities engaged in prostitution or had plastic surgery."
Investigators found that A earned about 250 million won from these videos.
A was also charged with insult for uploading videos to the YouTube channel that mocked the appearance of two other female idol group members.
Both the first-instance and appellate courts sentenced A to two years in prison, suspended for three years.
A appealed, but the Supreme Court of Korea dismissed the appeal, finding no error in the lower courts’ decisions.
Sojang was a YouTube channel that produced videos based on malicious rumors about K-pop idols, and figures in the music industry had repeatedly called for stern punishment of its operator. The channel has since been deleted.
newssu@fnnews.com Kim Soo-yeon Reporter