A former actress, accused of extorting money from the late actor Lee Sun-kyun, attends a pretrial detention hearing at Incheon District Court, Dec. 28, 2023. Yonhap

A nightclub manager accused of extorting 300 million won ($230,000) from the late actor Lee Sun-kyun claimed innocence during her final court statement, insisting she was also a victim. She alleged that her co-defendant, a former actress, manipulated her through a "dual-role act" to carry out the crime.

Prosecutors, however, requested a seven-year prison sentence for both defendants, citing the calculated and egregious nature of their offenses.

The trial, presided over by Judge Hong Eun-sook at Incheon District Court on Nov. 25, involved nightclub manager A (30, female) and former actress B (29, female), both facing charges of blackmail.

A was indicted for contacting Lee in September last year and claiming her phone had been hacked and that she was being blackmailed. Under this pretense, she requested 300 million won in hush money from the actor.

Separately, B was accused of demanding an additional 100 million won from Lee and successfully extorting 50 million won.

Lee, who had been under police investigation for drug-related charges, passed away in December last year.

During the trial, A's defense argued that B had manipulated A through psychological domination, known as gaslighting, forcing her to act as an intermediary in the extortion. The defense described A as a victim of B's "one-person, dual-role" scheme, claiming that A, unaware of B's true intentions, had coerced and intimidated A into compliance.

The two women, who became close while serving prison sentences and lived together starting in September 2022, had a seemingly familial relationship.

However, investigations revealed B used her knowledge of A's drug use and social connections with celebrities to exploit her.

B allegedly posed as a hacker threatening to expose Lee's private life while pretending to support A as a confidant.

'Severe and deliberate crimes'

In her final statement, A tearfully said, "I wanted to protect him and end the threats quickly by paying off the blackmailer. I cared deeply for him and never intended to blackmail him."

She also admitted to sending messages to Lee demanding money under B's guidance, despite suspecting B's involvement as the blackmailer.

Prosecutors said A's claim of merely relaying demands does not absolve her of guilt, citing precedents where similar cases resulted in convictions. They emphasized A's calculated actions, such as purchasing a burner phone, describing her crimes as severe and deliberate. They requested a seven-year prison sentence for both defendants.

While B admitted most charges during the trial, her defense requested leniency, noting her remorse and cooperation during the investigation.

The court will announce its ruling on Dec. 19.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.