Lee Seon-gyun's Threatening Woman Who Appeared in Court Holding Baby, Cleared of Child Abuse Charges

Accompanied by 1-Year-Old Child During Pre-Detention Suspect Interrogation
Child Abuse Prevention Association Files Complaint Citing "Emotional Abuse"

A woman in her 20s, who was indicted on charges of threatening the late actor Lee Seon-gyun to extort money, was judged by the prosecution not to be punishable for child abuse for bringing her one-year-old child to the 'photo line' during the pre-trial detention hearing (warrant review) last year.

The Women's and Children's Crime Investigation Division of the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Jeong Hee-seon) recently decided not to prosecute Ms. A (29, female), who was reported for child abuse under the Child Welfare Act, according to a Yonhap News report on the 22nd. Ms. A appeared at the warrant review held at the Incheon District Court on December 28 last year on charges of extortion against Mr. Lee, carrying her young child unrelated to the case. Ms. A was reported for child abuse for exposing her baby to many reporters while holding the child wrapped in an overcoat.

Mr. A, who is accused of threatening the late actor Lee Seon-gyun to extort money, appeared holding a baby at the pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant hearing) held at the Incheon District Court in Michuhol-gu, Incheon on December 28 last year.
Photo by Yonhap News
soonseok02@yna.co.kr

The Korea Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse, which reported Ms. A, stated, "Ms. A brought her one-year-old biological child, who is completely unrelated to the case, to the warrant review, exposing the child to numerous cameras and crowds, causing fear and terror to the child." They added, "Ms. A's actions constitute emotional abuse that harms the normal development of the child and involve using the child to beg for leniency." However, the prosecution reportedly judged that Ms. A did not commit child abuse, considering that she was a single mother and had no place to leave the child at that time.

Ms. A is currently on trial after being detained and indicted in January on charges of extortion and other offenses for threatening the late Mr. Lee between October 13 and 17 last year, demanding 100 million won and extorting 50 million won. She learned that Ms. B (30, female), a manager at a nightlife establishment who lived in the same apartment and was friendly with her, had a connection with Mr. Lee, and pretended to be a hacker to threaten Ms. B. Ms. A committed the crime by even purchasing illegal SIM chips from a burner phone seller. Ms. B, unaware that Ms. A was the one threatening her, obtained 300 million won from Mr. Lee by telling him, "My phone is hacked, and I am being threatened, so I need money to keep quiet." However, Ms. B did not deliver this money to Ms. A. Eventually, Ms. A received 50 million won from Mr. Lee through another acquaintance in October last year. Ms. A also reported Mr. Lee and Ms. B to the police for drug use allegations.

Ms. A is known to be a former actress who appeared in minor roles in films produced in 2012 and 2015. She has been living with her child in a correctional facility and brings the baby to court hearings. In March, when the baby cried throughout the trial, the judge asked, "Can't the parents take care of the baby? Will you keep bringing the baby to court every time?" to which Ms. B briefly replied, "Yes." When the judge questioned her about her occupation, she answered, "Self-employed."