A South Korean woman in her 30s has been sentenced to eight months in prison for posting hundreds of threatening and defamatory messages online targeting actress Shin Se Kyung; a court confirmed this week.
The Seoul Eastern District Court's Criminal Division 3, presided over by Judge Lee Ho-dong, issued the ruling on Tuesday, July 2, finding the defendant, identified only by her surname Kim, guilty of criminal defamation and intimidation.
Kim (35) was under the spotlight two years ago after his obsession over 'When a Man Loves' actress Shin Se Kyung led him to write about 450 hate comments online between June 3 and August 14, 2024, on Shin Se Kyung's official fan board, as well as drama-related boards on DC Inside.
The posts included violent threats, including references to acid attacks, along with sexually explicit and derogatory comments aimed at the actress's appearance and family.
"The defendant wrote numerous insulting and harmful messages about the victim, a well-known celebrity, without any apparent reason, causing the victim significant emotional distress," the court said in its ruling. "The victim has strongly appealed for a severe punishment."
While the court acknowledged that Kim did not appear to have intended to act on her threats, it emphasized the emotional harm caused to Shin and her reputation.
The prosecution had initially sought a two-year sentence, but the judge handed down a reduced term, citing the absence of actual physical harm.
Shin Se Kyung, known for her roles in dramas such as Six Flying Dragons and Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Myung, has not publicly responded to the court's decision.
Her agency had previously stated that it would pursue legal action against those responsible for malicious online activity.
The case has brought new attention to fears of online abuse in South Korea's entertainment industry, where stars are often the object of cyberbullying.
Unrelenting online attacks on public figures have led lawmakers and advocacy groups to call for stricter regulation and enhanced enforcement.
Kim remains in detention and will have to serve her full jail term unless she submits an appeal.
