Prosecution Requests Even More Prison Time For Lee Ji Yeon And Kim Da Hee

Lee Ji Yeon and Kim Da Hee appealed their conviction for attempting to blackmail actor Lee Byung Hun. But asking for mercy from the Seoul Central Court of Appeals could possibly add more prison time to their sentence rather than exonerate them.

On March 5 prosecutors asked that both women receive a three-year prison sentence. Model Lee Ji Yeon was originally sentenced to a year and two months in prison, while former GLAM member and "Monstar" actress Kim Da Hee was sentenced to a year.

Not only were the blackmailers asking for leniency, but the victim Lee Byung Hun wrote to the court asking that his blackmailers be pardoned. He did not want them to spend time in prison.

According to Korean media outlet Nate, the legal team representing Lee Ji Yeon and Kim Da Hee viewed the letter sent by Lee Byung Hun as an offer of settlement.

"The letter Lee Byung Hun submitted to the court means that he doesn't want them to be punished so it's like a settlement. We ask for probation as the victim has accepted their apologies. The case was accidental and wasn't fulfilled."

The women did attempt to blackmail Lee Byung Hun by asking for $5 million or they would release video footage of him engaged in a sexually explicit conversation. He reported them to the police.

"They admit what they did wrong and they are still at a very young age," said their legal representative.

The prosecution took the stance that the women were not sorry despite the many letters of apology they sent to the court.

"The defendants schemed carefully and even as they are submitting their letters of apology, they are both claiming different views so we can't see that they are truly sorry," said the prosecution. "We ask for a heavier sentence than the first sentence that was made."

In the final statements both women took the opportunity to apologize again.

"I am sorry to the victim and his family and I understand how wrong I was. I have nothing else to say but sorry," said Lee Ji Yeon.

"I realized how immature I was and I am sorry to everyone that I offended," said Kim Da Hee. "I am sorry to my parents as well who raised me so well".

The final trial is scheduled for March 26. Lee Byung Hun is married to actress Lee Min Jung and the couple is expecting their first child in April.