‘Kim Junsu 840 Million Won Blackmail’ BJ Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison, Finalized by Supreme Court

On May 1, 2025, the Seoul High Court’s 10-1 Criminal Division (B) sentenced BJ A to 7 years in prison for violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (extortion) during her appeal trial. Dissatisfied with the ruling, A filed an appeal to the Supreme Court.

However, the Supreme Court’s Third Division dismissed A’s appeal, upholding the second-instance ruling as final.

A, who had been active as a BJ on the online streaming platform Soop (formerly AfreecaTV), was brought to trial for extorting 840 million won (approximately $600,000 USD) from Kim Junsu through 101 instances of blackmail between September 2020 and October 2024. Investigations revealed that A recorded private conversations with Kim Junsu and threatened to leak them on social media.

The First Trial

During the first trial, A’s defense claimed, “She was addicted to propofol, impairing her rational judgment, and likely committed the crime to fund her drug use.” They added, “Since her detention, she has been reflecting on her wrongdoings daily.” A also stated, “It wasn’t a planned approach to record the victim,” and noted that part of the extorted money was used for her father’s prostate cancer treatment, pleading for leniency. A expressed remorse, saying, “This unfortunate incident drove a nail into my parents’ hearts, and it felt like my life was over. Seeing my family visit me daily in detention breaks my heart. I made poor judgments out of ignorance and feel ashamed.”

The Uijeongbu District Court’s First Criminal Division sentenced A to 7 years in prison, matching the prosecution’s request. Both A and the prosecution appealed the first-instance ruling. The court noted, “The defendant decided to extort money using recorded private conversations and photos when her relationship with the victim deteriorated. Over four years, she extorted 840 million won in 101 instances. The nature of the crime, given its method and duration, is severe.”

Meanwhile, Kim Junsu has previously spoken out about being blackmailed and defrauded by A.

The Second Trial

In the second trial, the prosecution sought to uphold the 7-year sentence, while A’s lawyer pleaded, “She deeply regrets her actions and feels remorse toward the victim. She vows never to commit such crimes again after serving her sentence. Her unstable financial and emotional state influenced her actions, and her father’s cancer treatment adds context. We ask for a reduced sentence, considering her sincere regret.”

A read her final statement, apologizing, “I sincerely apologize to the victim for the pain and hardship caused. Severe depression, insomnia, and panic disorder made sleep difficult, and I foolishly became addicted to propofol, causing immense mental and financial harm to the victim. I’ve written apology letters to show my remorse and attempted reconciliation, though communication was challenging. I swear on my life’s I will not cause such harm again.” She added, “I humbly accept the judge’s fair ruling. If released, I’ll earn a caregiving certification to help cancer patients like my father and live a life’s contributing to society. I want to atone for life’s and never repeat this mistake.”

The second-instance court questioned A about sending threatening letters to the victim (Kim Junsu), to which she replied, “I sent letters but never threatened.” When pressed about charges of retaliatory intimidation, A claimed she hadn’t receive the indictment notice. Regarding other recordings shared with a third parties, A admitted giving them to a journalist “for whistleblowing purposes” two years prior. The court ruled, “The crime’s severity, duration, method, and amount make it gravely serious. The victim suffered extreme stress and stress due to the defendant’s persistent threats and demands,” ordering the confiscation of a mobile phone and a smartphone to prevent further harm.

Kim Junsu’s Response

Kim commented on the case, “I see it as my mistake, so I’ve stopped meeting people outside business since the incident. In a way, I’m grateful to her (A]. It made me swear off such gatherings.” His agency, Palmtree Media, stated, “A recorded conversations with Kim Junsu for illicit purposes and threatened to leak them on social media. She said, ‘I know Kim Junsu is innocent, but but a single false article can damage a celebrity’s image, preventing him from appearing on broadcasts and recovering his reputation, while I have nothing to lose,’ continuing her threats.”

Earlier, on November 13, 2024, the Gyeonggi Northern Police Agency filed a request for an arrest warrant for BJ A on charges of blackmail under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes. A is accused of extorting around 800 million Korean won from Kim Junsu across 101 separate instances between September 2020 and October 2024.