Prosecutors once again asked the court to fine YouTuber and Hover Lab chief Kim Se-eui 2 million won at his formal trial, which was triggered after he challenged a previous summary fine over alleged violations of Korea’s Personal Information Protection Act.
At a June 16 hearing at the Seoul Central District Court, prosecutors sought 2 million won each from Kim and the Hover Lab corporate entity.
Kim is accused of using personal data from roughly 400 Hover Lab subscribers―collected about a year earlier―to send mass campaign texts urging support ahead of his bid for a top leadership post in the conservative People Power Party last June.
Earlier, the court issued a summary order imposing 2 million won fines on both Kim and Hover Lab, finding the use exceeded the stated purpose of data collection. Kim contested that order and requested a full trial, moving the case to the first-instance court.
In his closing statement, Kim maintained his innocence, saying the alleged victim had worked with an election-monitoring group and insisting he never misused anyone’s information.
A verdict is scheduled for December 11 at 2 p.m. KST.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)