Internet broadcaster BJ Shin Tae-il (32; real name Lee Kun-hee), who was brought to trial on charges of producing and streaming a sexually exploitative internet livestream featuring a minor, was sentenced to prison in the first trial.
The Incheon District Court Criminal Division 12 (Presiding Judge Shin Sang-ryeol) on the 9th sentenced Lee, who was detained and indicted on charges of violating the Act on the Protection of Children and Youth against Sex Offenses and producing and distributing sexual exploitation materials, to six years in prison. The court also ordered a seven-year employment restriction at institutions related to children, youth, and people with disabilities and confiscated 2.73 million won in revenue gained from broadcast donations.
Five accomplices who were brought to trial together received prison terms ranging from two years and six months to three years and six months. Two people, including Mr. B, whose level of involvement was deemed relatively low, were given two years and six months in prison, suspended for four years, and were also ordered to perform 160 hours of community service.
The court said, "Even from the perspective of the general public, this broadcast contains content that evokes sexual shame and disgust and constitutes child and youth sexual exploitation material," adding, "Because it was produced and streamed to obtain economic gain through viewer donations, the profit motive is also recognized."
The court also rejected the defendants' argument that the victim participated voluntarily. The court found, "The victim was 18 at the time, and even if the victim voluntarily participated in the broadcast in return for an appearance fee, it is difficult to see that sexual self-determination was freely exercised."
As for the reasons for sentencing, the court noted, "The defendants lured children and youth, who should be protected, with economic benefits and had them appear in a broadcast that evokes sexual acts, and they indiscriminately streamed it as a YouTube livestream with more than 20,000 viewers in real time," adding, "They not only infringed on the sexual self-determination rights of children and youth but also distorted viewers' sexual consciousness and severely harmed the formation of sound sexual values."
The court said, "It is favorable that the victim does not want punishment and that some defendants are reflecting," but added, "Given the extremely poor nature of the crime and its significant social harm, stern punishment is unavoidable."
Lee was indicted on charges of producing and streaming an internet livestream that evokes sexual acts by having Mr. C, who was 18 at the time, appear on July 12 last year at an officetel in Cheongna-dong, Seo District, Incheon.
According to the investigation, after paying Mr. C an appearance fee of 500,000 won, Lee used a computer program "roulette wheel" to set penalties based on viewer donations and had them carried out. Those penalties included content that evokes sexual acts, and it was found that seven other BJs participated in the broadcast along with Lee at the time.
Police referred the seven to the prosecution without detention on the same charges. In addition, 161 viewers of the livestream were also referred to the prosecution on charges of violating the child and youth sex protection law and aiding the production and distribution of sexual exploitation materials.