New developments have emerged in the case surrounding the late South Korean actor Lee Sun Kyun, whose tragic passing in 2023 was preceded by an elaborate blackmail scheme involving his former manager.
According to a report by News1 on May 21, the Incheon District Court’s 3rd Criminal Appeals Division has upheld the initial sentence of three years and six months in prison for the manager, referred to as “A,” who exploited Lee’s drug use to extort 300 million won (approx. $220,000) from him in 2023.
The court found that A manipulated the situation by falsely claiming Lee’s phone had been hacked and that he was in danger of being exposed unless he paid her hush money. The extortion scheme unraveled after Lee’s death, triggering widespread outrage and a high-profile legal battle.
While the court maintained its original ruling during the second trial, prosecutors continued to argue that the sentence was too lenient given the seriousness of the crime. They urged the court to revise the punishment to the initial recommendation of seven years behind bars.
Meanwhile, A’s legal team pleaded for leniency, asserting that she was also a victim — allegedly being blackmailed herself by an unidentified third party. Her attorney claimed she acted out of fear and poor judgment, not malicious intent.
Public reaction remains sharply divided. On popular forums like theqoo, some netizens sympathized with A’s circumstances, arguing that a seven-year sentence would be excessive. Others, however, criticized the judicial outcome, accusing the court of going easy on A due to her gender and expressing concern over potential double standards in the legal system.
The controversy surrounding Lee Sun Kyun’s final months continues to spark intense public debate, as the nation reflects on issues of cyberbullying, drug abuse, and the abuse of trust within the entertainment industry.
