"Threatened to Leak Recording"... Female BJ Arrested and Indicted for Extorting 800 Million Won from Kim Junsu

Uijeongbu District Prosecutors' Office Indicts on Extortion Charges
Extorted Approximately 840 Million Won Through 101 Threats
Kim Junsu Also Announces Legal Action Over Rumor Spread

Former TVXQ member Kim Junsu. Kim Junsu Instagram

A female AfreecaTV BJ who extorted approximately 800 million KRW by threatening Kim Junsu, formerly of the group TVXQ, has been indicted while in custody.

On the 2nd, the Criminal Division 1 of Uijeongbu District Prosecutors' Office announced that a woman in her 30s, identified as A, was arrested and indicted on the 28th of last month on charges of blackmail under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes. A is accused of threatening Kim Junsu from September 2020 until last month, extorting money and valuables worth about 840 million KRW over 101 instances. Kim Junsu’s side filed a complaint stating that they had met A thinking she was a nail artist and had been deprived of money and valuables for five years. A is known to have threatened to distribute illegally recorded private conversations on social networking services (SNS). A prosecutor stated, "We will carry out the prosecution thoroughly to ensure the defendant receives punishment commensurate with the crime."

Earlier, the Northern Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency applied for an arrest warrant for A on the 13th of last month, bringing the case to light. It is reported that A had been receiving money from Kim Junsu in exchange for not distributing the recordings and committed the crime to fund drug use. Additionally, A is currently on trial at the Seoul Central District Court for drug-related charges, and the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office is also investigating cases related to A.

Following the news coverage, Kim Junsu’s agency, Palm Tree Island, stated, "A continued to threaten that even a single false article about celebrities would damage their image," and added, "Kim Junsu confirmed that he is not the only victim of A’s blackmail and decided to take legal action to prevent further harm." However, as rumors spread online, the agency released a second statement warning, "We have appointed the law firm Kim & Chang and will initiate strong legal measures."

Meanwhile, Kim Junsu debuted in December 2003 as a member of the group TVXQ and gained great popularity with various hit songs such as "Believe," "Rising Sun," "O-Jung Ban Hap," "Balloons," and "Mirotic." However, in July 2009, he filed a lawsuit to terminate his exclusive contract with SM Entertainment along with members Park Yoochun (Micky Yoochun) and Kim Jaejoong (Hero Jaejoong), subsequently leaving the group. TVXQ was reorganized as a duo with Yunho and Changmin, while Kim Junsu formed the group JYJ with Park Yoochun and Kim Jaejoong in June 2010 and resumed activities. Their lawsuit, which lasted over three years, was settled in November 2012 through an agreement between JYJ and SM. Kim Junsu has also been active as a musical actor, appearing in various productions such as "Mozart!," "Dracula," and "Death Note." Recently, he formed the unit JX with Kim Jaejoong and held a solo concert commemorating their 20th debut anniversary last month at KSPO DOME (formerly Olympic Gymnastics Arena) in Songpa-gu, Seoul.