South Korean BJ Fined for Defamation and Stalking After Abortion Revelation
A South Korean internet broadcaster, known as BJ Hicong, has been ordered too pay a 3 million won (approximately $2,250 USD) fine after being found guilty of defamation, insult, and stalking related to the public disclosure of her abortion while pregnant with the child of fellow broadcaster, BJ Namsoon. The case highlights the complex legal landscape surrounding online speech and personal disputes in the age of social media.
The legal proceedings, concluded on Thursday by Judge Kim Gwang-seop of the Jeju District Court Criminal Division 1, centered on events that unfolded in July 2023. Hicong, whose real name is Kim Hee-won, publicly revealed on Instagram that she had been in a romantic relationship with namsoon, whose real name is Park Hyun-woo and boasts 800,000 YouTube subscribers, and subsequently underwent an abortion.
According to court documents, Hicong alleged that Namsoon “ignored” her after the surgical procedure and “pretended not to know about the abortion.” She further shared screenshots of their conversations,revealing a dispute over financial compensation for the procedure. Hicong requested 1.3 million won (approximately $980 USD) from Namsoon, who in turn, demanded proof of expenditure, requesting copies of her bankbook and resident registration card.
The situation escalated with the release of further messages in which Hicong accused Namsoon of infidelity and subjected him to a barrage of abusive language, including calling him “crazy XX.” She also reportedly contacted him 80 times via calls and text messages, demanding answers and expressing feelings of abandonment.
Initially, Hicong maintained that she was not seeking financial gain, but rather an apology. She claimed that she was driven to disclose the information due to relentless criticism from Namsoon’s fans and a lack of support from him, leading to a severe depressive episode and hospitalization.
Namsoon responded swiftly, announcing his intention to pursue legal action. He stated at the time, “We are currently in the process of filing a complaint against Hikong,” and added, “I have appointed a lawyer.” He also warned that if Hicong’s claims were substantiated by the court, he would reveal all details of their relationship publicly.
Despite the contentious nature of the case, the court acknowledged that the core facts revealed by Hicong – the relationship and the abortion – were, in fact, true. The ruling stated, “There is a fact that the defendant (Hikong) underwent abortion surgery on December 28, 2022,” and “There is a fact that he had sexual intercourse with the victim (Nam Soon) around November 2022.”
However, the court found Hicong guilty on all counts of insult, defamation, and stalking. The charge of insult stemmed from the use of abusive language directed at Namsoon. The defamation charge was upheld despite the factual accuracy of her statements, with the court determining that she damaged Namsoon’s reputation by publicly revealing the information with the intent to slander him. The stalking conviction was based on the 80 unsolicited calls and messages sent to Namsoon despite his explicit refusal to engage.
The court found that Hicong’s actions,even while revealing truthful information,crossed the line into harmful and unlawful behavior.This case serves as a cautionary tale regarding the potential legal ramifications of online disclosures, even when based on factual events.
