Seoul Prosecutors Indict Woman Over Harassment of Actress Han Ji Min

Post by : Mina Rahman

A woman in her 30s has been formally indicted over a string of online threats and defamatory messages aimed at South Korean actress Han Ji Min.

On October 20, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, Criminal Division 5, led by prosecutor Kim Ji Young, filed charges without detention against a suspect identified only by the surname Lee. She is accused of intimidation and defamation in connection with her online conduct.

Prosecutors say investigators established that between September and October last year Lee published 19 hostile entries on her social media accounts. Several messages contained explicit threats, including “I will sabotage Han Ji Min’s movie” and “Shut your mouth.”

Those posts also tagged Han Ji Min and several people in her circle, escalating the targeted harassment.

Authorities trace the campaign of abuse to reports in August last year about Han Ji Min’s relationship with Cho Jung Hoon, vocalist of the indie band Jannabi.

BH Entertainment, the actress’s management company, lodged a police complaint in November, with Han Ji Min joining as a complainant. The Gangnam Police Station conducted the initial inquiry.

After evidence review, police recommended indictment and transferred the case to prosecutors in March. Following a seven-month prosecution review, the office has now referred Lee to trial.

No hearing date for the first trial has been scheduled.

The case underscores ongoing concerns over cyber harassment and online defamation directed at public figures in South Korea.

With social platforms facilitating rapid dissemination of abuse, entertainment agencies have increasingly relied on criminal and civil remedies to shield artists from online attacks.

Han Ji Min, known for her roles in “Miss Baek” and “Our Blues,” has not issued a public comment regarding the indictment.