58-Year-Old Man Sentenced To Prison For Harassing 16 Year Old Star

A 58-year-old man has been sentenced to prison with a suspended sentence for repeatedly posting malicious comments online targeting 16-year-old trot singer Kim Dahyun.

According to a statement released by Kim Dahyun’s agency, Entrow Entertainment, the Daegu District Court delivered the ruling on April 16. The defendant was given a four-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, after being found guilty of insult under Korean law.

The court found that from July to November 2023, the man posted 73 insulting comments aimed at Kim Dahyun on a television broadcaster’s online message board. He also directed 67 posts to her father, Kim Bongon, a well-known traditional scholar and public figure.

The presiding judge stated that the level of mental harm suffered by the young singer was significant, noting that it would be especially difficult for someone her age to endure such repeated attacks. The court emphasized the seriousness of the defendant’s actions and the potential psychological impact on the victims.

Kim Dahyun’s legal representative, attorney Kim Kyungeun of Inui Law Firm, commented on the case following the verdict.

Even public figures deserve to have their dignity respected. The damage is even greater when the target is a young celebrity and their family. Freedom of expression should not come at the cost of someone else’s reputation.

— attorney Kim Kyungeun

Kim Dahyun, born in 2009, debuted in 2020 with a trot single and quickly rose to fame through popular TV programs like Voice Trot and Miss Trot 2. She is also widely known as the youngest daughter of popular figure Kim Bongon.