Prosecutors demand jail term for former YG Entertainment CEO Yang Hyun Suk

Former YG Entertainment CEO Yang Hyun Suk appeared in court at the Seoul District Court in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul, on Monday. [NEWS1]

Prosecutors are demanding a three-year prison sentence for former YG Entertainment CEO Yang Hyun-suk, who is on trial for perverting the judicial process by trying to cover up his artist’s drug use.

“It was clear that Yang threatened a girl group trainee to overturn her statement to the police, telling her that if she didn’t, he would ‘destroy her’,” Yang said during his trial at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho. South of Seoul. “Not only was the manner and nature of his crimes malicious, but throughout the investigation and trial, Young has not admitted any of his crimes and has shown no sign of remorse.”

In 2019, after submitting an investigation petition to the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission to testify, Yang allegedly threatened former K-pop trainee Han Seo-hee, who was convicted of drug use with Big Bang member TOP in 2016, about the drug use of former boy group iKON member BI Happening.

According to Han, she met with Yang after her first police interrogation, and Yang threatened to “ruin her” if she didn’t change her testimony.

She withdrew her complaint shortly after.

Young has denied the allegations and said she changed her mind “because of fear”.

He resigned as YG’s CEO in June 2019.

In September 2021, BI was sentenced to three years in prison, suspended for four years, for marijuana use and purchase and use of LSD in 2016.

Yang Hyun Suk founded YG Entertainment in February 1998. The company became one of the three leading K-pop agencies in Korea, producing superstars such as Se7en, Psy, Big Bang, 2NE1, iKON, Winner and Blackpink. But YG Entertainment stars are often subject to controversy and rumors, especially those related to alleged illegal drug use.

by Li Jian [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]