Yang Hyun-suk, the chief producer of YG Entertainment, was partially convicted by the Supreme Court on the 18th regarding allegations that he threatened a whistleblower to cover up an investigation into drug charges against an affiliated singer. Producer Yang was acquitted in the first trial, but the second trial overturned that, sentencing him to six months in prison and one year of probation.

Yang Hyun-suk, the former representative of YG Entertainment, is attending a trial on charges of threatening a whistleblower to cover up the drug investigation of former iKON member B.I on the 24th of May, 2023, at the Seoul Central District Court located in Seocho-gu, Seoul. /Courtesy of News1

The Supreme Court's 1st Division (Chief Justice Ma Yong-joo) upheld the second trial's ruling, which sentenced Producer Yang to six months in prison and one year of probation, during the appellate hearing for Yang's violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment for Specific Crimes (retaliatory threats, coercing meetings, etc.) on that day.

Producer Yang was indicted without detention in May 2020 for allegedly attempting to cover up an investigation by coercing and threatening A, a former trainee singer who was arrested in August 2016 on drug charges, to recant his statement regarding the drug purchase allegations against Bi-interest (real name Kim Han-bin), a member of the YG-affiliated idol group iKON.

The first trial acquitted Producer Yang in December 2022. The first trial court stated, "There is insufficient evidence to recognize that Producer Yang directly and specifically communicated harm to the victim." The prosecution appealed the first trial's decision.

The second trial found Producer Yang guilty of some of the charges in November 2023, sentencing him to six months in prison and one year of probation. Similar to the first trial, the second trial ruled Producer Yang not guilty of the 'retaliatory threats' charge but recognized the prosecution's additional charge of 'coercing a meeting' as guilty.

The second trial court noted, "Producer Yang had a far superior social status and influence in the entertainment industry compared to the victim, and the meeting process with the victim was not free." It added, "Even if Producer Yang did not explicitly exercise his status or power, it can be seen that he exerted influence based on the circumstances, place, and context of the statements made."

Producer Yang appealed the second trial's ruling. However, the Supreme Court maintained the second trial's decision, finding no issues with it, thus keeping the sentence of six months in prison and one year of probation.

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