What happened in the case?

A woman in her 30s was fined 6 million won by the Seoul Central District Court on October 16 for posting threatening and insulting messages about actress Han Ji-min. According to court records, she published 19 posts on her social media account between September and October 2024, some of which included a statement that she would interfere with a film Han appears in. She also tagged Han and people close to her in some of the posts.

Who is Choi Jung-hoon?

Choi Jung-hoon is the vocalist of the Korean indie band Jannabi and has been in a relationship with Han Ji-min. Korean media report that the same woman was previously punished for stalking him. According to News1, which reported the story on October 17, she was earlier fined for long-term stalking of Choi.

Was there a separate penalty for the stalking case?

Yes. Reports say she was later sentenced to a fine of 5 million won and ordered to complete a stalking treatment program, under the Act on Punishment of Stalking Crimes and the Special Act on Punishment of Sexual Crimes. The details were first made public in March, when Choi's agency, Pepponi Music, announced the outcome of the lawsuit.

For international fans

Han Ji-min is a well-known Korean actress, and Choi Jung-hoon is a singer with a dedicated fan base. Stalking and online threats against celebrities are treated as serious crimes in Korea, and the penalties in this case reflect that. Fans are generally encouraged to report harassment through official channels rather than engaging with it online.