A YouTuber known as 탈덕수용소 posted fake videos defaming members of a celebrity including Jang Won-young of the girl group IVE to earn hundreds of millions of won. After receiving a two-year prison sentence with a three-year probation at the appellate level, the defendant has appealed to the Supreme Court.

According to law-enforcement sources, the defendant, identified as ㄱ씨, 36, was charged with defamation and insult under the Information and Communications Network Act, and his lawyer filed an appeal with the Incheon District Court the day before. The appellate court previously handed down the same two-year prison sentence with three years of probation as the first instance.

The original sentence also maintained a fine of 210 million won and 120 hours of community service. From October 2021 to June 2023, the YouTuber posted 23 false videos defaming seven celebrities and influencers on the 탈덕수용소 channel. He spread false claims that Jang Won-young’s jealousy ruined a fellow trainee’s debut, and uploaded 19 videos that mocked or insulted the victims’ appearances. Prosecutors say he earned about 250 million won from these videos.