Actor Shin Se-kyung's Harasser Sentenced to Prison

Actor Shin Se-kyung has seen justice served as her long-time harasser has been sentenced to prison. On July 2, the Seoul Eastern District Court, presided over by Judge Lee Ho-dong, sentenced a 35-year-old man, identified as Kim, to eight months in prison for charges of threats and defamation. Kim was found guilty of posting over 450 abusive and threatening messages about Shin on various online forums, including DC Inside, between June 3 and August 14 of last year. The court noted that Kim's actions caused significant emotional distress to the well-known actress, who has been a victim of his harassment for years. While the prosecution had sought a two-year prison term, the court considered that Kim did not appear to have the intent to carry out his threats. Shin's agency, The Present Company, stated that they had taken multiple legal actions and issued warnings after recognizing the severity of the situation, but the harassment continued to escalate, leading to this criminal complaint. They emphasized that this ruling serves as a critical legal precedent, highlighting the seriousness of cyberbullying beyond just one individual. The agency further explained that the severity of a crime is reflected in the punishment, and any act causing mental distress with malicious intent constitutes a responsibility as a perpetrator. They concluded that hiding behind anonymity to threaten someone's life or tarnish their reputation is a clear crime that is not protected by freedom of expression. This ruling clarifies the legal boundaries between mere opinion and criminal behavior online, potentially leading to a shift in societal awareness regarding such issues.