Yang Hyun Suk, founder and former head of K-pop agency YG Entertainment, has been found guilty by the Seoul High Court’s Criminal Division 6-3, on charges of allegedly trying to pressurize a former trainee into retracting her police statements, with the aim of obstructing an investigation into a drug scandal, reports a Korean news portal. The court’s verdict, which was delivered on November 8, has resulted in a six-month prison sentence and a one-year probation for Yang Hyun Suk.
The case revolved around allegations dating back to August 2016, when Yang Hyun Suk was accused of attempting to obstruct an investigation by intimidating a former trainee who had testified in an alleged drug investigation involving B.I, a former member of the K-pop group iKON, during his time at YG Entertainment. Previously, Yang Hyun Suk had received a non-guilty judgment in the case by the district court, but the prosecution appealed, arguing that the CEO coerced the trainee into meeting him so as to reverse her statements. The court ultimately found Yang Hyun Suk guilty, while also sentencing a former YG managing associate, Mr. Kim, to four months in prison with a one-year probation term, reported allkpop.
According to allkpop, the court stated, “The prosecution lodged an appeal, purporting the victim’s statement was credible. Nonetheless, the amendments to the indictment involved a forced interview with Yang Hyun Suk, hampering the defendant’s right to defense.” The court reportedly upheld the lower court’s verdict, which had cleared him of charges pertaining to seeking revenge through blackmail against the trainee, pointing to the lack of credibility in the testimonies, “The victim’s account fluctuated significantly, and if there were portions she only recalled mid-investigation, it is difficult to assert that the alterations in her statement were wholly natural. The prosecution failed to yield tangible evidence, making it a challenge to substantiate their allegation of harm under undisclosed circumstances.”
The court acknowledged that Yang Hyun Suk’s actions, such as hosting a forced meeting and using his influence to reprimand B.I, were inappropriate and may have caused undue pressure. In their final ruling regarding Yang Hyun Suk and Mr. Kim, both receiving deferred sentences, the court emphasized, “In his capacity as the representative of YG, he abused his social status and wielded authority over B.I through reprimands, thus finding him culpable.”
Source : Times of India
