YG Entertainment executive producer Yang Hyun-suk has been given a suspended sentence by the Supreme Court for attempting to cover up rapper B.I's drug allegations by threatening the informant.
The Supreme Court's First Division (Chief Justice Ma Yong-ju) confirmed the original sentence of six months in prison with a one-year suspended sentence for Yang Hyun-suk, who was charged with coercion under the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes Act, on the 18th.
In August 2016, Yang was accused of persuading and threatening a former trainee, identified only as A, who had been arrested by the police on drug charges, to retract their statement about B.I, a former member of YG Entertainment's group iKON, purchasing and using drugs.
Initially, the prosecution charged Yang with retaliatory threats, but he was acquitted in both the first and second trials. However, the appellate court added the charge of "coercion" as an alternative accusation, leading to a partial guilty verdict, which the Supreme Court has now upheld.
The appellate court stated, "Yang Hyun-suk used his position as the head of the agency to demand the victim retract their statement, which resulted in the investigation being concluded for a time before being reopened and leading to prosecution. This has caused significant harm to the function of criminal justice," emphasizing the gravity of his actions.
However, the court considered that "the victim expressed no desire for punishment, and the defendant believed there was no drug use, leading to the crime," in explaining the sentencing.
Following the verdict, Yang Hyun-suk released a statement saying, "Although the initial charge of retaliatory threats was acquitted, the addition of the unfamiliar charge of coercion during the second trial led to a long and heavy period. It's disappointing, but I humbly accept it and will proceed with more caution and responsibility in my work going forward."
Meanwhile, B.I, who was at the center of the case, was indicted in 2016 for purchasing and inhaling LSD and marijuana. In 2021, he received a three-year prison sentence with a four-year suspended sentence, which has been finalized.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)