The woman who blackmailed late actor Lee Sun-kyun has been released on bail. The court granted her release as her detention period ended before the second trial began.

⚖️ According to the Incheon District Court's Criminal Appellate Division 3 (Presiding Judge Choi Sung-bae), on June 26, the court approved bail for Ms. Kim (30), a former bar manager who had been detained at Incheon Detention Center.

📅 Kim's pretrial detention expired on June 30, prompting the court to release her ahead of the appeal trial, which begins on July 16.

📌 Under Korean law, detention during appeals can be extended for up to three two-month periods. Kim's detention was extended in December 2023, February 2024, and April 2024.

💰 The Crime:

Kim was charged with extortion. In September 2023, she called Lee Sun-kyun, claiming her phone had been hacked and she was being threatened. She demanded hush money—ultimately receiving 300 million KRW (approx. $220,000).

📉 In December 2023, Kim was sentenced to 1 year in prison.

The court said:

"Due to Kim's actions, the victim—an actor of high public stature—must have suffered fear and severe mental distress."

🚨 Not her first offense:

Kim has six prior convictions, including multiple drug charges involving methamphetamine and marijuana. She was already facing trial for drug offenses when she was indicted in November 2023.

💔 Actor Lee Sun-kyun tragically passed away on December 27, 2023, amid intense media scrutiny and a public drug investigation. The case surrounding his death remains one of Korea's most sensitive celebrity-related controversies.