YouTuber Sentenced for Kidnapping and Assaulting Former Gang Member

A former gang member turned YouTuber has been sentenced to a fine by the appellate court for his involvement in the kidnapping and assault of a junior gang member who attempted to leave the organization. The individual, referred to as A (34), was a member of the Chuncheon Sikgupa, a gang monitored by the police, and openly acknowledged his gang affiliation while creating content on YouTube.

On June 6, the Chuncheon District Court's Criminal Division 1, presided over by Judge Shim Hyun-geun, upheld the original sentence, imposing a fine of 15 million won on A for charges including joint confinement under the Act on the Punishment of Violences.

The case dates back to July 2021 when B (22), after expressing his desire to leave the gang, went into hiding. A, along with junior gang members, located B in a motel in Wonju, Gangwon Province, and subsequently confined him for approximately 14 hours at a pension in Chuncheon in August of the same year.

During the confinement, A confiscated B's mobile phone to prevent his escape and monitored him closely, even sleeping in the same room. When B reiterated his intention to leave the gang, A ordered junior members to beat him in a practice known as 'julbbata,' which lasted about an hour. Afterward, A warned B not to be seen around Chuncheon and to avoid any greetings if they crossed paths before releasing him.

The appellate court stated, "We found no new circumstances or significant changes that would affect the sentencing since the original ruling."

Additionally, A is currently serving a three-year prison sentence for drug-related charges, including the use and distribution of ketamine and other narcotics, which occurred between October 2022 and August 2023.