The 16th season participant of 'Single's Inferno,' Young-sook, was sentenced to a fine for defamation against Sang-cheol.
On the 9th, Director General Heo Jeong-in of the Daegu District Court's Criminal Division 10 sentenced Baek (broadcast name Young-sook), a participant in the entertainment program 'Single's Inferno' 16th season, to a fine of 2 million won for violating the Act on Promotion of Information and Communication Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc. (defamation) and insult charges.
This ruling came about a month after the sentencing trial on June 11. The court stated, "By publicizing false facts, the defendant has seriously damaged the victim's social evaluation," adding, "The mental distress suffered by the victim is significant, and the content has been widely disseminated online, resulting in considerable social repercussions."
Previously, Baek was charged for releasing private conversations, including obscene messages exchanged with Kang (broadcast name Sang-cheol), whom she appeared with in 'Single's Inferno' 16th season, through social media and live broadcasts, exaggerating and distorting the facts. The trial was conducted in private for reasons including protecting the victim, and during the sentencing trial, prosecutors had sought a fine of 2 million won against Baek.
Immediately after the ruling, the victim, Kang, stated, "After a long legal dispute, it has come to an end," adding, "Baek and others have conspired against me and spread exaggerated and manipulated private conversations that the public did not need to know. By treating all sorts of rumors and fake news as fodder, not only I but also those around me have suffered greatly."
Kang noted, "This ruling is far from compensating for my pain or fully healing my wounds," while expressing hope that "for the individuals who believed in and supported me without being swayed by the fake news, this provides at least minimal comfort that 'the law works correctly.'" He further emphasized, "I will hold the accomplices accountable, and I will keep a hawk's eye on their actions."
Kang's legal representative, attorney Lee Yong-ik (Attention Law Firm), stated, "The legal judgment clearly confirmed responsibility for the dissemination of false information, and justice has been served." He added, "This will not end with a criminal ruling, and we plan to file civil damages claims against Baek and others in the future."
This incident occurred during a personal information disclosure war between participants in the entertainment program. Rumors with uncertain facts rapidly spread, especially through online communities and social media platforms, resulting not only in direct harm to the parties involved but also to those around them, highlighting a critical issue in the entertainment industry and online culture.
The court acknowledged, "While freedom of expression in online spaces must be protected, disseminating false content that defames others is unacceptable," adding, "The defendant claimed to have acted in the public interest to prevent harm to Korean women, but both parties are recognized individuals, and this is not a public matter. Therefore, considering the circumstances, the intent to defame is confirmed, and the actions cannot be viewed as proportional, making the defendant's claims unacceptable," thus recognizing Baek's crime.
[Photo] SNS
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