“Shared NewJeans Edited Sexual Content” Korean Man’s Sentence Sparks Massive Outrage
A South Korean court has handed down a sentence after three NewJeans members became the victims of sexually exploitative material.
A report from Newsis has revealed that earlier this year, a 21-year-old man — identified only as “A” — was indicted at his residence in Pohang, North Gyeongsang province, for distributing fabricated sexual photos and videos in a highly viral Telegram chatroom.
According to court documents, the man edited and composited images to make it appear as if NewJeans members Haerin, Hanni, and Minji were naked or engaged in sexual acts. At the time of the indictment, Minji and Hanni were 20 years old, while Haerin was 18 years old.
On January 12, the man was charged with multiple offenses, including violation of the Act on the Protection of Children and Youth Against Sexual Offenses. This week, the Daegu District Court’s First Criminal Division has issued its sentence.
For his crimes, man “A” has been sentenced to a fine of ₩15.0 million KRW (about $10,200 USD). He has also been ordered to complete 40 hours of a sexual violence treatment program.
When explaining the reasoning behind the fine, the court noted the substantial reach of the defendant’s sexually exploitative materials, given that the chatroom in question was accessed by approximately 200 people. The court also emphasized that the man has not been forgiven by Minji, Hanni, or Haerin.
However, fans on social media feel the sentence was far too light, especially given Haerin’s age.
where is the jail sentences when haerin is still a minor in korea 🙄
— 🐇 (@gothwaif) November 20, 2025
haerin is still considered a minor in sk why isnt this man in jail
— j . ཋྀ ˚₊‧⁺ (@jywonism) November 20, 2025
15Million won is like 20$, this is not a fair sentence, korean justice system fails again
— Zayn 💮 (@ZXSnipee) November 20, 2025
The perpetrator is one of numerous men arrested this year for creating similar sexual material, with HYBE supplying evidence to law enforcement in April as part of a deepfake crackdown. Earlier this month, ADOR also released a statement regarding posts that infringe on NewJeans’ rights.
ADOR Releases Official Statement Regarding NewJeans’ (NJZ) Rights
