A female streamer known as Ms. A has been sentenced to seven years in prison for extorting 840 million KRW (about $610,000) from former TVXQ member Kim Junsu. The Supreme Court of South Korea upheld the ruling on June 24, ending a long legal battle. Ms. A threatened Kim Junsu 101 times over four years using secretly recorded private conversations.
The court called the crime “extremely serious” due to its duration and impact on the victim. Kim Junsu’s agency stated the threats damaged his mental health and career. Ms. A admitted to the crimes but claimed she was struggling with drug addiction and her father’s illness.
Ms. A was active on the streaming platform Soop (formerly AfreecaTV). She first met Kim Junsu in 2019 and later recorded their private conversations. When their relationship soured, she used these recordings to demand money, threatening to leak them on social media.
The extortion occurred between September 2020 and October 2024. Police arrested Ms. A in November 2024 after Kim Junsu filed a complaint. The Uijeongbu District Court initially sentenced her to seven years in May 2025, which was later confirmed by higher courts.
During the trial, Ms. A’s lawyers argued she was addicted to propofol, a sedative, which impaired her judgment. They said she needed money for drugs and her father’s cancer treatment. The court acknowledged her remorse but emphasized the severity of her actions.
“I sincerely apologize to the victim who was hurt and suffered because of me,” Ms. A said in court. “I caused the victim a lot of damage mentally and financially.” She also wrote apology letters to Kim Junsu and promised not to repeat the crime.
Kim Junsu’s agency, PALMTREE ISLAND, released a statement condemning Ms. A’s actions. They said she exploited his celebrity status, knowing false rumors could harm his reputation. “Even though I know Kim Junsu did nothing wrong, a single false article can tarnish a celebrity’s image,” Ms. A reportedly told him.
The court ordered the confiscation of Ms. A’s mobile phones to prevent further leaks. Investigators found she had shared one recording with a journalist two years ago. Kim Junsu said the ordeal made him avoid personal interactions outside work.
“I see it as my own mistake,” Kim Junsu said. “Since the incident, I no longer meet people outside of business matters. In a way, I’m grateful to her—I’ve sworn never to put myself in such situations again.” His agency confirmed he is focusing on his musical career.
Ms. A’s legal team requested leniency, citing her mental health struggles and family situation. However, prosecutors insisted on a strict sentence due to the repeated nature of the crime. The court agreed, stating the damage to Kim Junsu was severe.
Also read: Kim Junsu Blackmail Case: BJ Appeals to Supreme Court
The singer debuted in TVXQ in 2003 before leaving in 2009 to form JYJ. He is now a successful musical actor, currently starring in “Aladdin” in Seoul. The case has drawn attention to the risks celebrities face from blackmail and privacy breaches.
Credits: Chosun Biz.
