Jjyang (left) receives confirmation of a prison sentence for extorting tens of millions of won from YouTuber Gujeok (real name Lee Jun-hee), who has now filed a petition for retrial. [Photo=Yonhap News]

YouTuber Gujeok (real name Lee Jun-hee), who was confirmed to have received a prison sentence for extorting tens of millions of won from Jjyang (real name Park Jung-won), has filed a petition for retrial. In response, Jjyang's legal representative, Attorney Kim Tae-yeon, and National Power lawmaker Kim Jang-gyeom held a joint press conference at the National Assembly on the 18th.

Lawmaker Kim Jang-gyeom stated, "Judicial destruction to save just one person, President Lee Jae-myung, is resulting in the suffering of innocent victims. The Democratic Party framed the three judicial reform bills as systems that expand the rights of the people, but the reality is the exact opposite."

He strongly criticized, "Convicted criminals whose sentences have been finalized by the court are now attempting to use the retrial petition system to overturn rulings at the Constitutional Court. This opens a path for perpetrators to prolong trials while shifting the pain and anxiety onto victims."

Jjyang's legal representative, Attorney Kim Tae-yeon, also shared, "Victim Jjyang's joy after the final verdict was short-lived, and upon hearing about the retrial petition, she wondered if she would have to wait for another ruling. The retrial petition system has created a situation where the suffering that the victim believed was over is now repeating."

Gujeok, along with YouTuber Jujakgambelsa (real name Jeon Guk-jin), approached Jjyang in February 2023 and extorted 55 million won by threatening to publicize her tax evasion and privacy-related suspicions if she did not comply. He was indicted and arrested in August 2024 on these charges.

Gujeok was released on bail during the trial, but the first-instance court in February of last year found him guilty of most charges, sentencing him to three years in prison and detaining him in court.

Furthermore, on the 12th, the Supreme Court's Second Division (Presiding Justice Chun Dae-yeop) upheld the three-year prison sentence in the final appeal for Gujeok's charges of extortion, coercion, and threat.

Gujeok's legal representative, Attorney Kim So-yeon, claimed on her social media (SNS) on the same day that the court had violated six constitutional provisions, including Gujeok's right to privacy, equality, and the defendant's right to defense.

The 12th marked the first day of the implementation of the three judicial reform bills.

Reporter Lim Yo-hee