YG Entertainment Chief Producer Yang Hyun-suk received a suspended sentence for 'coercion' of a whistleblower related to rapper B.I's drug allegations. He noted, "I feel regret about the Supreme Court's ruling but will humbly accept it."
The Supreme Court's 1st Division, presided over by Justice Ma Yong-joo, on the 18th confirmed the first-instance ruling, which sentenced YG Entertainment Chief Producer Yang Hyun-suk to 6 months in prison and a 1-year suspension for charges of coercion under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.
Following the ruling, Chief Producer Yang Hyun-suk delivered a statement through YG Entertainment, saying, "I feel regret about the Supreme Court's ruling but will humbly accept it."
Chief Producer Yang Hyun-suk explained, "Although I was acquitted of the initially charged 'coercive intimidation', both the first and second trials confirmed my innocence. However, during the course of the second trial, the prosecution changed the facts to charge me with the unfamiliar crime of 'coercion', resulting in the Supreme Court's final ruling after a lengthy legal dispute lasting 5 years and 8 months."
Finally, he stated, "I will be more prudent and responsible in my approach to my work moving forward."
Earlier, Chief Producer Yang Hyun-suk was indicted for attempting to cover up investigations into former iKON member B.I (real name Kim Han-bin) regarding drug use, allegedly coercing and intimidating whistleblower Han Seo-hee, a former trainee. During the subsequent trial, Yang Hyun-suk admitted to meeting Han Seo-hee but denied the allegations of intimidation.
The first trial court found, "There was no evidence of harm indication, and it is difficult to regard the actions as instilling fear," and therefore acquitted Yang Hyun-suk.
However, during the proceeding of the second trial, the prosecution argued that "the first trial court misjudged the facts and legal interpretation," adding charges of 'coercion' in addition to the main allegations and securing some guilty verdicts. Yang Hyun-suk contested the ruling, appealing to the Supreme Court, thus concluding a prolonged legal battle.
The following is the full statement of Chief Producer Yang Hyun-suk.
I feel regret about the Supreme Court's ruling but will humbly accept it.
Although I was acquitted of the initially charged 'coercive intimidation', both the first and second trials confirmed my innocence. However, during the second trial, the prosecution changed the facts to charge me with the unfamiliar crime of 'coercion', resulting in the Supreme Court's final ruling after a lengthy legal dispute lasting 5 years and 8 months.
I will be more prudent and responsible in my approach to my work moving forward.
Thank you.
[Photo] OSEN DB.
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