In a recent development, the Seoul District Court has handed down a sentence to Cho (59), the persistent stalker of Apink’s Eunji, for her three-year-long campaign of harassment. Charged under the law concerning the punishment of stalking crimes, Cho has been sentenced to one year in prison, with an additional two-year probationary period.
In addition to the legal consequences, Cho is required to pay a 100,000 KRW (approximately 75 USD) fine. The court has also mandated her participation in 120 hours of community service and 40 hours of classes focused on preventing the recurrence of stalking crimes.
Cho’s unsettling pursuit of Eunji began in March 2020 when she sent a package to Eunji’s residence with an alarming message, expressing a desire to be Eunji’s maid and cohabitation partner. Two months later, Cho trailed Eunji on a motorcycle to her hair and makeup shop.
The situation escalated in April and July 2021 when Cho was discovered loitering near Eunji’s apartment on separate occasions. Despite warnings from the police and promises made to Eunji’s agency to cease contact, Cho persisted in her harassment through Instagram DMs and Bubble messages for the next five months.
Eunji, reacting to the interference in December 2021, suspended her Bubble service. The Seoul Central District Court took note of the significant mental and emotional distress inflicted on Eunji, emphasizing Cho’s lack of repentance and refusal to acknowledge her actions.
That's my JUNG EUNJI! 🔥💅🏼Teach the 'sasaeng'! Good job my girl! But still can't believe the person that stalk her is woman and in her 50s😭
— Apink & Englot🌻💕 (@mas22419) January 18, 2024
Scary tho#Apink #jungeunji pic.twitter.com/xvyzaTY06f
More about Jung Eunji:
Jung Eun Ji, originally named Jung Hye Rim and born in Haeundae, Busan, is a versatile South Korean artist celebrated for her roles as a singer, songwriter, actress, and voice actress. She rose to prominence as a member of the South Korean girl group Apink, which debuted in 2011 under the IST Entertainment label. After successfully auditioning as the main singer for Apink in November 2010, Jung Eun Ji joined the group without any prior professional training, undergoing a brief two-month training period with the ensemble.
Her acting journey began with a notable role as the female lead in “Reply 1997,” earning her accolades such as the 49th Baeksang Arts Award for Best New TV Actress. In April 2016, she expanded her artistic horizons by debuting as a solo artist with the EP titled “Dream.” On February 14, 2022, Apink revealed their fourth studio album, “Horn,” featuring the lead single “Dilemma.”
