Former T-ara member Lee Areum received an 8-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, along with two years of probation for charges of child abuse and defamation. The Suwon District Court in South Korea delivered the verdict on January 17th. Additionaly, She also ordered to complete 40 hours of child abuse prevention classes.
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Areum faced charges of abducting and enticing a minor and defaming someone under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection. The child abuse charges arose from her actions, which included swearing at her ex-husband in front of their children. Additionally, she defamed an individual who had publicly revealed a court ruling about her boyfriend during an online broadcast.
The court criticized Areum for admitting her actions while causing significant emotional harm to the child’s legal guardian. It stated, “She should be severely criticized for causing mental damage to the child’s legal guardian.”
In the defamation case, Areum made baseless accusations, such as claiming “the verdict was manipulated,” without verifying facts. These remarks were judged intentional and defamatory, given their broadcast context and her connection to the victim.
This case has drawn attention to the responsibilities of public figures and the legal implications of their actions, both online and offline. Areum’s sentencing serves as a reminder of the importance of accountability in personal and professional conduct.
Source – Xports News Korea
