Kim Junsu Says He’s “Grateful” to the BJ Who Extorted ₩840 Million — Here’s Why

A woman identified as BJ (Broadcast Jockey) A, who was convicted of blackmailing singer and musical actor Kim Junsu and extorting more than ₩840 million KRW (~$620,000 USD), is now denying allegations that she sent a retaliatory letter during her appeal trial. Despite admitting to all charges, she is seeking a reduced sentence, claiming extenuating personal circumstances.

⚖️ What Happened in Court

On April 10, the Seoul High Court’s Criminal Division 10-1 held the first appeal hearing for BJ A, who was sentenced to 7 years in prison in the initial trial for repeated extortion of Kim Junsu between September 2020 and October 2024.

The court asked A whether she had sent a letter to Kim Junsu as a form of intimidation. A replied, “I did send a letter, but I never meant to threaten him.” When the judge pressed further, asking whether she had been indicted for retaliatory threats, A claimed she hadn’t received the relevant indictment.

Another point of contention was an audio recording A allegedly provided to a journalist. When asked, she confirmed handing over the file two years ago for what she described as whistleblowing purposes.

Despite A’s attempts at justification, the prosecution reasserted its original request for a 7-year sentence, urging the court to dismiss her appeal.

🗣️ A's Apology and Plea for Leniency

A’s legal representative stated during final arguments that she was deeply remorseful, adding, “She fully understands the gravity of her actions and is committed to never repeating such behavior.”

A also delivered her own handwritten final statement in court, in which she said:

“To the victim who suffered because of me, I offer my sincere apology and ask for forgiveness. I was struggling with severe depression, insomnia, panic disorder, and eventually became addicted to propofol, which clouded my judgment.”

She claimed to have made efforts to apologize and repair the relationship, sending multiple letters to Kim Junsu and expressing her intent to avoid any further harm.

“I swear on my life that I will never again cause pain to the victim,” she said, also noting her intention to earn a caregiving license and volunteer in hospitals—especially in light of her father’s cancer diagnosis.

🔍 Case Background

BJ A had been active on video streaming platforms like SOP (formerly AfreecaTV) when she was found guilty of threatening to leak private audio recordings of conversations with Kim Junsu, unless he paid her. Over the span of four years, she contacted him 101 times, securing over ₩8.4 billion KRW in cash.

In the first trial, the court ruled that the crimes were planned and malicious, stating:

“When her relationship with the victim deteriorated, she used private recordings and photos to extract money. Given the frequency and nature of the extortion, this case is particularly serious.”

Although A argued she had acted under the influence of drug addiction and financial stress related to her father's medical care, the judge did not consider this sufficient to reduce her sentence.

🎙️ Kim Junsu Speaks Out

In response to the case, Kim Junsu publicly stated:

“I blame myself. Since the incident, I’ve stopped meeting people outside of work. In some ways, I’m grateful to her — it made me promise never to allow that kind of situation again.”

His agency, Palmtree Island, added that the BJ had clearly acted with malicious intent, knowing that even one misleading news article could irreparably damage his reputation.

“Junsu has suffered professionally despite doing nothing wrong,” the agency stated. “He has been unable to appear on broadcasts, and the harm to his image is lasting.”

The final verdict in the appeal case is scheduled to be delivered on May 1.

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