YouTuber BJ Seya Sentenced to Prison for Drug Use Charges
Famous YouTuber BJ Seya (real name Park Dae-se) has been sentenced to prison after being indicted for allegedly using drugs in a group at his home.
The Seoul Central District Court sentenced Park to 3 years and 6 months in prison for violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes (drugs), ordered him to complete a 40-hour drug addiction treatment program, and imposed a fine of 153.16 million won.
Park is accused of receiving drugs from BJ Kim Gang-pae, a YouTuber with ties to organized crime, and using the drugs multiple times with acquaintances at his home.
In response, Park explained on his YouTube channel last August, “I confessed a year and a half ago and went to the police station. Since then, I have been faithfully cooperating with the police investigation.”
The police applied for an arrest warrant for Park, and the Seoul Central District Court issued the warrant in September of last year, citing concerns about potential flight.
Subsequently, on the 20th of the same month, the police transferred Park to the prosecution while he remained in custody, and the prosecution indicted him in October of last year. During the closing arguments, the prosecution sought a 6-year prison sentence for Park, but the court sentenced him to 3 years and 6 months.
The court stated, “The defendant's period of dealing with drugs is not short, the types of drugs he handled are varied, and the quantity is considerable.” It pointed out that “it is difficult to deny that there are some anti-social signs, as he has been able to freely purchase and use drugs without any particular restrictions.”
Additionally, the court noted that “the defendant has frequently come into contact with drugs by instructing or asking work-related individuals or acquaintances, who are in a position difficult to refuse, to purchase drugs, ultimately resulting in their involvement as accomplices in this case.”
However, the court also explained its sentencing reasoning, stating, “The defendant has confessed his dependency on drugs and is making efforts to overcome it while strongly pledging not to reoffend. He has also actively cooperated with the investigation.”
BJ Kim Gang-pae, who is accused of providing drugs to Park, was arrested and indicted in September of the same year for violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes (drugs) and the Narcotics Control Act. Kim was sentenced to 3 years in prison in the first trial in February and has filed an appeal.
Image source: BJ Seya / News1
