A Supreme Court ruling on YouTuber Gujaeyeok, who was sentenced to prison for extorting money by threatening mukbang YouTuber Tzuyang, will be issued today (the 12th).
On the morning of the 12th, the Supreme Court will hold the sentencing for the appeal in the Gujaeyeok case, charged with blackmail and other offenses, at Courtroom No. 1 of the Supreme Court in Seocho District, Seoul.
Gujaeyeok is accused of threatening in 2023 to publicize allegations related to Tzuyang's private life and extorting 55 million won by using that as leverage. Gujaeyeok, who was brought to trial in the case, was sentenced to three years in prison in both the first instance and the appellate court.
The court said at the time that the amount extorted from the victim was not small and the victim had not been compensated, and that after the case became known he appeared to mislead public opinion and showed insufficient remorse in court, citing those reasons for sentencing.
The case is reported to have begun when Gujaeyeok threatened to expose Tzuyang's personal private life. Under pressure that private matters, such as settlement issues with a former boyfriend who was also a former agency representative, could be revealed, Tzuyang reportedly handed over tens of millions of won.
Gujaeyeok has denied the charges during the trial and has professed innocence. While detained in jail he submitted a letter of remorse asking for leniency. He is reported to have said at the time, "Even if a guilty verdict comes, give me a chance to repay the harm caused to the victim."
Gujaeyeok is also standing trial in a separate case. In the trial on charges including violation of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection (defamation), he was sentenced to two years in prison and fined 15 million won.
Meanwhile, Gujaeyeok recently filed a criminal complaint accusing Tzuyang and agency officials of false accusation, and Tzuyang is reported to have appeared at the police station for questioning on the 10th. Tzuyang's side said that in the previous case a false accusation complaint was not forwarded for prosecution and they expect this case to also be concluded without issue.
Attention is focused on whether the Supreme Court will dismiss Gujaeyeok's appeal today and affirm the appellate court's three-year prison sentence.
[Photo] broadcast screen / OSEN DB
[OSEN]