Legal Proceedings and Probation Sentence for YG Executive
A significant legal development has unfolded involving Yang Hyun-seok, an executive producer at YG Entertainment. On the 18th, the Supreme Court conducted a hearing to determine the sentence for Yang, who was charged with violating the law on aggravated punishment for specific crimes. The charges included compelling retaliatory threats and interviews.
During the proceedings, the court ruled that Yang would receive probation instead of a prison sentence. This decision marks the culmination of a lengthy legal battle that spanned over five years and eight months. The case centered around allegations that Yang attempted to intimidate Han Seo-hee, a public interest reporter, by threatening her when she reported to the police about being a member of a certain group at the time.
Han Seo-hee claimed that the police failed to properly investigate the situation regarding B.I's drug use and medication. According to the allegations, Yang called Han to YG's office building and threatened him, saying, "It's not even a job to bury you in the entertainment industry," while urging him to retract his statement by hiring a lawyer.
In 2019, Han Seo-hee filed a report with the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, leading to renewed investigations by the prosecution. The first trial court acquitted Yang in 2022, stating that there was no evidence that his remarks instilled fear in Han. The court also noted that Han had changed his statements multiple times, which affected his credibility. Additionally, it was suggested that Han sought monetary compensation after reversing his statement.
The second trial court also found Yang not guilty of retaliation threats. However, during the second trial, new charges were added, including coercion of interviews. As a result, Yang was sentenced to six months in prison and one year of probation in 2023. He appealed the decision, but the Supreme Court upheld the ruling, resulting in a probation sentence.
Yang expressed regret over the Supreme Court's decision but accepted it humbly. He highlighted that both the first and second trials had found him not guilty of the crime of threatening retaliation. However, the prosecution altered the charges during the second trial, introducing the unfamiliar charge of forcing an interview. This change led to a prolonged legal process and the final ruling.
Background on B.I's Case
B.I, a former member of a popular group, was sentenced to three years in prison and four years of probation in 2021. This was due to purchasing LSD and cannabis through Han Seo-hee in April 2016 and using some of them multiple times. His case further complicates the broader narrative surrounding the legal issues within the entertainment industry.
Additional News Highlights
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