Eight months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, plus 120 hours of community service

An owner of a car rental company was found guilty of blackmail in connection with threats directed at an idol couple after he reviewed dashcam footage from a vehicle previously rented to a female member of a girl group. The footage revealed that she had engaged in intimate contact with a member of another boy group.

According to court records, the defendant, identified in court as A, confronted the female idol and asked, “What did you do in the back seat?” He also mentioned the other male idol’s group name and warned, “If you won’t admit it, there’s nothing we can do about this either.” He initially demanded half of the 47 million won paid for the car’s purchase price, and a few days after receiving the money, he pressed for more and threatened to disclose the details of the intimacy.

The case was brought on charges of blackmail. The presiding judge, Gong Woo-jin of Incheon District Court’s Criminal Division 14, noted that the offense occurred during the defendant’s period of probation and considered the severity of the blackmail and the amount extorted. The sentence delivered was eight months in prison, suspended for two years, along with 120 hours of community service.

The victim is reported to have recovered around 9.79 million won that had been transferred under the threat.