Shouting Loudly Into Sleeping Guests' Ears at Jjimjilbang... Internet Broadcaster Fined for Bizarre Behavior

"Settlement Reached with Owner, but Crime Committed During Probation"

Internet broadcaster (BJ) Shin Taeil (real name Lee Gunhee) was fined for disrupting business by approaching guests sleeping in a jjimjilbang in Incheon and shouting loudly at them.

According to the legal community on November 15, Judge Lee Changkyung of the Incheon District Court's Criminal Division 1 sentenced Shin to a fine of 7 million won for obstruction of business. Shin was put on trial for disrupting business by conducting a live broadcast for about 20 minutes at a jjimjilbang in Gyeyang-gu, Incheon, at around 11:46 p.m. on June 26, during which he approached guests who were sleeping or resting and shouted loudly into their ears.

BJ Shin Taeil, who disturbed business by approaching a guest sleeping in a jjimjilbang and shouting loudly, was fined. Shin Taeil YouTube.

At the time, he was conducting a YouTube live broadcast titled "Waking Up All the Guests Sleeping in the Jjimjilbang." Shin also shouted at guests who were looking at him, saying things like, "I'm an aspiring singer, but I have vocal cord nodules so I'm warming up my voice," and "Are you just here to watch? Go about your business."

The court explained its sentencing by stating, "It appears that the defendant became so absorbed in attracting viewers' attention through provocative content on his internet broadcast that it led to this incident," but also noted, "The fact that he paid 5 million won to the jjimjilbang owner and reached an amicable settlement, with the victim not wishing for punishment, is a favorable circumstance."

However, the court also stated, "It is an unfavorable circumstance that the defendant filmed the crime with his mobile phone and broadcast it live on YouTube, has a record of multiple criminal punishments related to internet broadcasting since 2019, and committed this offense during the probation period of a suspended prison sentence."

Meanwhile, Shin has also been indicted and detained on charges of violating the Act on the Protection of Children and Youth (production of sexual exploitation materials, etc.). The first trial for this case is currently ongoing at the Incheon District Court.