The YouTuber Sojang has once again been found guilty in the appeal trial for spreading false and malicious videos about IVE’s Jang Wonyoung.
On November 11, the Incheon District Court upheld the previous ruling, sentencing the channel operator to 2 years in prison with a 3-year suspension, along with a 210 million won fine and 120 hours of community service.
The court stated that the first ruling had already “fully considered all relevant factors,” rejecting both the YouTuber’s and the prosecution’s appeals.
According to the case, from October 2021 to June 2023, the Sojang operator posted 23 fake videos about Jang Wonyoung and several other celebrities, seriously damaging their reputations. The videos were also said to insult five stars and disrupt the work of their agencies.
At the height of its activity, the Sojang's channel had about 60,000 subscribers and reportedly made 10 million won per month, earning a total of 250 million won through the fake content.
Investigators revealed that the YouTuber used edited clips and voice manipulation to make the videos seem believable, and even ran the channel through paid memberships, profiting from malicious rumors about idols.
Source: [1]
