2 Women Get Suspended Sentences for Blackmailing Lee Byung-hun

The Seoul Central District Court on Thursday gave two women accused of blackmailing actor Lee Byung-hun a two-year suspended sentence.

The court said the two, identified as Lee (25) and Kim (21), caused "serious harm" to Lee's image as an actor by demanding W5 billion (US$1=W1,056) to stop them publishing a video clip that shows him making obscene remarks, and that they caused both psychological and financial damage to the actor.

But the judge considered the fact that Lee said he forgave the women and that they had already served six months awaiting trial and showed signs of repentance.

Unusually, the judge also said that Lee shared responsibility by behaving as he had.

The women were initially sentenced to a year in jail but appealed.