K-Pop Star Kim Junsu Extorted by Former SOOP BJ: Legal Battle Ensues

K-pop star Kim Junsu, a member of the group JX, has come forward with a statement after being extorted for approximately 800 million KRW (around $670,000) by a former SOOP (formerly AfreecaTV) female BJ, identified as A.

On the 15th, Kim Junsu's agency, Palm Tree Island, released an official statement saying, "A recorded conversations with Kim Junsu for illegal purposes and threatened to spread them on social media." The agency further stated, "Despite knowing that Kim Junsu was innocent, A exploited his celebrity status to continue these threats."

The agency emphasized, "Kim Junsu is clearly a victim in this case. He discovered that there were multiple victims of A's extortion and decided to take legal action to prevent further harm."

Kim Junsu's team added, "The case is currently in the court's warrant trial stage, making it difficult to provide specific details. We will release additional statements once the investigation and trial conclude. We hope this incident raises awareness about the severity and malicious nature of such extortion and threats, and we promise to respond firmly until the end."

They concluded by reiterating, "Kim Junsu has not committed any illegal or criminal acts related to this case and is a clear victim."

The Gyeonggi Northern Provincial Police Agency applied for an arrest warrant for A on the 13th, under charges of extortion under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes. A is accused of extorting approximately 840 million KRW (around $700,000) from Kim Junsu over 101 instances from September 2020 to last month.

According to the police, A became acquainted with Kim Junsu in 2019 and recorded their conversations and audio, threatening to release them online to extort money. A is currently on trial at the Seoul Central District Court for drug-related charges, with investigations revealing that the motive behind the crimes was to fund drug purchases.

Meanwhile, Kim Junsu continues his activities with fellow former TVXQ member Kim Jaejoong as part of JX. They recently held a 20th-anniversary solo concert on the 8th, delighting fans. Additionally, Kim Junsu is set to appear in the musical 'Aladdin.'

Thank you.

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