“They even went after the family”... Shin Se-kyung’s ‘acid attack’ online harasser also gets an eight-month prison sentence on appeal

[Financial News] An online commenter in their 30s who repeatedly threatened and sexually insulted actress Shin Se-kyung has also been sentenced to prison at the second trial.
On the 2nd, Shin Se-kyung’s agency, The Present Company, said, “On the 22nd of last month, an online commenter who had repeatedly made threats and maliciously disparaged actress Shin Se-kyung, who is represented by our company, was sentenced to eight months in prison at the appeal hearing held at the Seoul Eastern District Court and taken into custody in court.”
According to the written judgment, the defendant repeatedly posted contemptuous abuse and insulting comments targeting actress Shin Se-kyung anonymously, hundreds of times over a period of about two months. It was also confirmed that the defendant targeted the actress’s family and posted threatening comments that implied physical harm.
The court said, “The victim had to carry on with their life amid anxiety and fear that extreme and bizarre harm might be inflicted by a defendant whose identity they did not even know,” adding, “The defendant has not made amends for the victim’s psychological shock and suffering caused by the crimes in this case.”
The agency emphasized, “We will continue to respond firmly, under a zero-tolerance policy, to illegal acts that infringe on our artists’ rights and interests, including threats, malicious disparagement, defamation and insults,” adding, “No matter how long it takes, we will track down those responsible to the end and ensure they face the appropriate legal consequences.”
The agency also expressed its gratitude to fans who had consistently gathered evidence to help ensure the online commenter could be punished. It said, “This ruling is a valuable result achieved through our efforts together with the fans,” and added, “We will continue to respond firmly to all illegal acts that violate our artists’ personal rights, and ask fans for their continued attention and tips.”
Attorney Kim Ji-ae of the law firm Ascendant Yulbon, Shin Se-kyung’s legal representative, said the ruling was significant because “the judiciary has clearly declared that cyberterrorism committed with the twisted aim of attracting others’ attention or relieving personal stress is a serious offense warranting an actual prison sentence.”
She added, “Acts of hiding behind anonymity in online spaces to violate someone’s personal rights and threaten their daily life cannot be justified for any reason, and the seriousness of such conduct must be met with severe criminal punishment and civil liability for damages.”
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