Yang Hyun-seok, who was innocent, was found guilty on appeal and admitted to the crime of forcing an interview

Yang Hyun-seok (53), former general producer of YG Entertainment, who was found not guilty in the first trial, was found guilty in the second trial.

Seoul High Court Criminal Division 6-3 (Chief Judge Lee Ui-young, Won Jong-chan, and Park Won-cheol) sentenced former CEO Yang, who was indicted on charges such as coercion of interviews under the Aggravated Punishment Act for Specific Crimes, to six months in prison and one year of probation. This overturns the first trial court's verdict of not guilty. Former YG manager Mr. Kim, who was tried on the same charges as former CEO Yang, was sentenced to four months in prison and one year of probation.

On this day, the court said, "The charges against Yang Hyun-suk, including his coercion of interviews and the use of force, can be felt as a psychological burden and pressure, and it cannot be said that he did not use force," and added, "He used his social status as the CEO of YG to call him into the office and criticize him." He said he believed Yang Hyun-suk was guilty.

In August 2016, when Mr. A, a former singer trainee, was arrested on suspicion of drug use and was being investigated by the police, former CEO Yang reported the suspicion of drug purchase by YG's group icon B.I (26, real name Kim Han-bin), and transferred Mr. A to the company. He is accused of coaxing and threatening to call him and force him to retract his statement about B.I.

In December last year, the 23rd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Chief Judge Cho Byeong-gu) found Yang Hyun-seok not guilty at the first trial, who was indicted on charges of violating the Aggravated Punishment Act for Specific Crimes (threats of retaliation, etc.). At the time, the court explained to Yang Hyun Suk, "There is insufficient evidence to acknowledge that he gave specific and direct notice of harm to the victim."

When the prosecution found him not guilty in the first trial, he appealed by adding the charge of coercing an interview as a preliminary indictment. The second trial court found Yang Hyun-suk guilty and the verdict against him was overturned. Attention is being paid to whether Yang Hyun-suk, who went from not guilty to guilty, will go to the Supreme Court.

Choi Ji-ye, Ten Asia Reporter wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr