YG has received a suspended sentence of 6 months in prison, with a probationary period of 1 year for blackmail charges related to B.I’s drug scandal

just 6 months? Rich people really face no consequences

[Seoul=Newsis] Reporter Lee Jong-hee — The Supreme Court will deliver its verdict today on Yang Hyun-suk, the chief producer of YG Entertainment, who was indicted for attempting to cover up a drug investigation involving one of the agency’s artists.

The Supreme Court’s First Division (Presiding Justice Ma Yong-joo) upheld the lower court’s ruling on July 18, sentencing Yang to six months in prison with a one-year suspended sentence for violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (charges of retaliatory threats and coercion of an interview).

Yang was brought to trial for allegedly coercing and threatening whistleblower "A" in August 2016, to cover up a drug investigation involving former iKON member B.I (real name Kim Han-bin), who was accused of purchasing and using illegal drugs.

Whistleblower A claimed that despite the police obtaining information regarding B.I’s drug use, they failed to pursue the investigation, allegedly due to Yang’s interference.

In June 2019, A reported the case to the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, which then transferred the case to the prosecution in 2020. The prosecution subsequently indicted four individuals, including B.I and Yang. Whistleblower A was not among those indicted.

In the first trial held in December 2022, the court ruled Yang not guilty, stating that there wasn’t sufficient evidence to prove his words instilled fear in A.

The court cited several reasons for the acquittal:

• Whistleblower A changed their statements multiple times,

• The changes appeared to be influenced by police investigations and media coverage,

• A seemed to expect some form of compensation after altering their statements.

During the appeals trial, the prosecution added an additional charge of “coercion of an interview,” which the appellate court allowed. Although the appellate court also acquitted Yang of retaliatory threats, it found him guilty of coercion of an interview and, in November 2023, sentenced him to six months in prison with a one-year suspended sentence.

The appeals court stated, “Yang used his position as CEO to demand a retraction of testimony and aided in doing so. This led to the temporary closure of the drug investigation, which was only resumed later, ultimately resulting in legal punishment.”

The court added, “This interfered with free testimony during a criminal investigation and significantly harmed the integrity of the justice system.” However, it also considered mitigating factors: “Thankfully, prosecution did eventually occur, minimizing the damage to state authority. The victim expressed a desire not to see punishment imposed, and it appears the defendant acted under a mistaken belief that the artist had not used drugs. The degree of coercion was relatively minor.”

Yang appealed the decision, but the Supreme Court ruled that the lower court’s judgment was legally sound and upheld the sentence. The Supreme Court stated, “There were no errors such as a violation of logical reasoning or factual misunderstanding, nor any issues with how the charges were amended or the legal interpretation of aiding and abetting.”

Meanwhile, B.I was indicted for purchasing LSD and marijuana through whistleblower A in April 2016 and using some of the drugs multiple times. In September 2021, he was sentenced to three years in prison with a four-year suspended sentence. As neither party appealed, the verdict became final.

I thought he finally going to prison...

So I will assume that

1. He got sentenced on 2023

2. Made an appeal at supreme court

3. Supreme court upheld the lower court ruling on 2025

1 year suspended sentence starting on 2023 should end at 2024?

So does that means that he already served the sentence?

Quote from rain07

So I will assume that

1. He got sentenced on 2023

2. Made an appeal at supreme court

3. Supreme court upheld the lower court ruling on 2025

1 year suspended sentence starting on 2023 should end at 2024?

So does that means that he already served the sentence?

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yes

I think he was hoping for some prison time so he could finally get that street cred.

So he'll put the hat again?

Quote from Jasque-O-Part2

So he'll put the hat again?

he and his bro never put down the hat. Doesn't matter who is named the CEO, they still call the shots.

Quote from 2PS1

I think he was hoping for some prison time so he could finally get that street cred.

suspended sentence = no actual prison time

This is a slap on the wrist.

Where's the B.I fans that should be supporting him for protecting their bias tho. :P

But we all know that this isn't the first time Yang Hyunsuk has "protected" his Artists like this.

So he got nothing. I'm not sad tho. Let people use drugs if they want, don't put them in prison

Quote from chaelisayadom

just 6 months? Rich people really face no consequences

He got punished for threatening, not for murder.

wow. Old news.

interesting