Music Producer Sentenced to Prison for Impersonating BTS Members

A music producer in his 20s, referred to as "A," has been sentenced to one year in prison for impersonating BTS members and illegally collecting personal information. The Criminal Appeals Department 5-2 of the Seoul Central District Court handed down the sentence on May 10 for violations of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communication Network Utilization and Information Protection.

A, aged 29, was specifically investigated for impersonating BTS’s Suga (Min Yoon Gi) between August and September 2022. During this period, A used a mobile phone to impersonate Suga and speak with record producer B, from whom he collected military service details and undisclosed guide sound sources. In November 2022, A also impersonated producer B to contact Suga directly in an attempt to gather information about an album release date and enlistment time.

Additionally, A impersonated BTS’s V (Kim Tae Hyung) to obtain over ten undisclosed guide music files from other producers. He was charged with unauthorized removal of information concerning unreleased songs, personal details, and private schedules of BTS members.

The court noted that the actions of A would cause significant property and social damage to BTS and their company. The trial judge stated, "The motive for the crime was to gain popularity by impersonating a successful composer using personal information that was collected." The judge further added, "Continuing the crime while under investigation and trial for similar offenses indicates a poor moral character."

The victims, BTS members, suffered considerable psychological harm from the unauthorized disclosure of their information. The court observed that the damage had not been recovered, and A had not received forgiveness from the victims. However, the court acknowledged A's reflective attitude and the commitment of A's family to guide him towards a righteous life. The sentence was decided based on the considerations of the first trial and the fairness of the trials involved.

The court rejected appeals from both A and the prosecutor, stating, "The intangible damages suffered by the victims in this case were significant, and no agreement was reached."

A is known for his work on the production of songs for famous idol groups. The case highlights the severe consequences of impersonating celebrities and unauthorized access to personal and professional information.