Post by : Meena Ariff

A woman in her 30s has been formally indicted for repeatedly targeting popular South Korean actress Han Ji Min with malicious online posts and threats.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, Criminal Division 5, led by prosecutor Kim Ji Young, charged the woman—identified only by her surname Lee—without detention on October 20. She faces accusations of intimidation and defamation for her online actions.

Investigators found that between September and October last year, Lee posted 19 harmful messages on her social media accounts. Several of these posts included direct threats, such as “I will sabotage Han Ji Min’s movie” and “Shut your mouth.”

Lee also tagged Han Ji Min and several of her acquaintances in the posts, further intensifying the harassment.

The online abuse reportedly began after news broke about Han Ji Min’s relationship with Cho Jung Hoon, vocalist of the indie band Jannabi, around August last year.

Following the continuous online attacks, BH Entertainment, Han Ji Min’s agency, filed a police complaint in November, with the actress herself participating as a complainant. The Gangnam Police Station carried out the initial investigation.

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

The first trial date has not yet been announced.

The incident sheds light on the persistent issue of cyber harassment and online defamation targeting celebrities in South Korea.

With social media often amplifying hate campaigns and threats, entertainment agencies have been taking stronger legal actions to protect their artists.

Han Ji Min, acclaimed for her performances in “Miss Baek” and “Our Blues,” has not issued a public statement regarding the case.

#Global