Attempted Murder and Kidnapping of 1 Million-Subscriber YouTuber Results in Major Sentence Reduction on Appeal: Why?

The appellate court has significantly reduced the prison sentences for a group of individuals who attempted to kidnap and murder a famous YouTuber.

The 1st Criminal Division of the Incheon Outer Branch of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Jung Seung-gyu) overturned the lower court rulings—which had sentenced a 26-year-old used car dealer, identified as Defendant A, and a 24-year-old acquaintance, identified as Defendant B, to 30 years and 25 years in prison, respectively, on charges including attempted robbery and murder—and instead sentenced them to 15 years and 12 years in prison.

Additionally, Defendant C, a 37-year-old who was indicted for aiding and abetting robbery resulting in injury by lending the perpetrators tools, saw his sentence reduced from 5 years to 2 years in prison.

The appellate court explained, "The defendants' crimes carry an extremely heavy responsibility given the motive, method, and degree of injury inflicted on the victim," adding, "The victim has not forgiven them and is pleading for severe punishment."

However, the court stated, "It does not appear that their attacks stemmed from a definitive intent to murder the victim," and noted, "The actual result of taking a life did not occur."

The court continued, "In determining the sentence, not only the severity of the offense but also the degree of intent and the outcome of the crime must be taken into account," judging that "the sentences given by the lower court are somewhat heavy compared to the degree of crimes they committed."

The court also took into consideration that none of the defendants had a criminal record other than fines or were first-time offenders.

The fact that sentencing investigation results evaluated their risk of reoffending as low or moderate was also reflected in the sentence reductions.

Defendants A and B were indicted on charges of luring YouTuber D to the parking lot of an apartment complex in Incheon at around 10:40 p.m. on October 26 of last year, striking him with blunt weapons about 10 times, kidnapping him in a vehicle, and attempting to murder him.

At the time, they forced YouTuber D into a vehicle and drove about 200 kilometers to the parking lot of a public cemetery in Geumsan-gun, South Chungcheong Province, but were arrested red-handed by police who were dispatched following a report.

You YouTuber D is a famous gaming creator with approximately 1 million subscribers and suffered severe injuries to his face during the attack.

Investigations revealed that Defendant A, the used car dealer, hatched a plan to rob and murder YouTuber D after being asked to return a deposit by D, who had contracted to buy a luxury SUV.

(Photo: Yonhap News)

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