Famous BJ’s ‘Private Life Exposure’ Threat Led to Suicide... Court Orders 15 Million Won Compensation

Compensation Awarded Far Below the Claimed Amount

The family of a woman in her 30s who took her own life after being blackmailed with threats to expose her private life filed a damages lawsuit against the perpetrator, a well-known internet broadcaster (BJ), but received a compensation ruling that fell far short of the amount claimed.

According to Yonhap News Agency on August 31, the Incheon District Court’s Civil Division 16 (Presiding Judge Park Sungmin) recently ruled partly in favor of the bereaved family of Ms. A (who was 33 years old at the time of her death) in their lawsuit against BJ Mr. B (41) for damages. The court ordered Mr. B to pay 15 million won to Ms. A’s family. This amount is significantly less than the 1 billion won claimed by Ms. A’s family.

Mr. B was indicted in May 2020 on charges of threatening to expose the private life of his ex-girlfriend, Ms. A, during his personal broadcast on AfreecaTV. After Ms. A, with whom he had dated for about two months, ended their relationship, he committed acts of defamation and attempted coercion by repeatedly demanding to meet her, according to the investigation.

Mr. B also wrote a false report claiming that he was a victim of dating violence by Ms. A and sent it by email to reporters at 30 media outlets, as well as posting similar content on the online bulletin board of Ms. A’s workplace. In February 2023, after Mr. B received a first trial sentence of one year in prison with a two-year suspended sentence in the criminal case, Ms. A overdosed on medication about 20 days later and was taken to the emergency room. She remained in a coma at a nursing hospital and passed away in September of the same year. Later, Mr. B received a sentence of two years and six months in prison, suspended for four years, in the appellate trial, and this ruling was finalized by the Supreme Court in July of last year.

During the trial, Ms. A’s family argued, “The deceased was shocked by Mr. B’s lack of remorse and his decision to appeal the criminal case, which led to her extreme choice,” and insisted, “Mr. B is obligated to compensate for the damages.” However, the first trial court stated, “It is clear, based on common sense, that the deceased suffered psychological harm due to Mr. B’s acts of defamation and other crimes,” but also found, “The evidence submitted is insufficient to recognize a causal relationship between the defendant’s crimes and the deceased’s death.”

Ms. A’s family, unable to accept the first trial verdict, reduced their claim for damages to 300 million won and appealed. The appellate court’s sentencing hearing, originally scheduled for August 29, has been postponed to mid-September, as the court determined that additional mediation procedures are necessary.