A car rental operator has been convicted on charges of blackmailing K-pop idols after threatening to release dash cam footage showing private moments between a female idol and a male performer.
On October 18, the 14 Criminal Division of the Incheon District Court handed down a sentence of eight months in prison, suspended for two years, plus 120 hours of community service.
The case began in February 2024 when the agreedidentified only by her initial “C,” rented a minivan to a member of a popular K-pop girl group. Shortly after returning the vehicle, C reviewed the dash cam recordings and discovered clips of the idol engaging in intimate physical contact with a male idol in the back seat. Instead of deleting the footage, C saw an opportunity for financial gain.
He initiated contact via the Chinese messaging app WeChat, sending messages like “What were you doing in the backseat yesterday? Isn’t that too much?” and refer to the male idol’s group to increase the pressure on his victim. He then demanded a sum equivalent to half the purchase price of the van, about 23.5 million won ($16,400), threatening that the footage could be made public if his demands were not met.
Frightened by the prospect of public exposure, the idol transferred a total of 9,793,000 won ($9,800) to C in three payments. According to court documents, the first two transfers were made in Chinese yuan: 20,000 yuan (about $2,800) and 30,000 yuan (about $4,200), followed by a final installment of 500,000 won ($350) in cash, delivered to Gwanak-gu, Seoul.
Prosecutors charged C with extortion, a crime that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million won ($14,000). In handing down a suspended sentence, Judge Gong Woo-jin noted that the defendant committed the crime while already serving a suspended sentence for a previous crime, calling C’s actions “highly reprehensible.” The court also took into account the fact that most of the extorted funds had been returned and that C admitted guilt and expressed sincere remorse.
Legal experts say this ruling highlights the need for greater privacy protection for public figures, particularly in situations where personal data may be recorded without consent. The verdict has become final and C must complete community service requirements and remain crime-free for the two-year probationary period to avoid serving the prison sentence.
