Actor Go Se-won Stalker Sentenced to Two Years in Prison

 Court Delivers Prison Sentence for Stalking and Defamation

A woman in her 40s identified as Ms. A has received a two-year prison sentence for spreading false allegations and stalking actor Go Se-won.

The Anyang Branch of the Suwon District Court delivered the verdict following charges of violating the Stalking Punishment Act and committing defamation through information networks using false statements. In addition to the prison term, the court ordered Ms. A to complete 40 hours of a stalking treatment program.

The court emphasized that severe punishment was necessary given that the defendant reached no settlement with the victims. Judges noted that the woman repeatedly posted false claims online alongside details making the actor's identity easily identifiable, causing severe disruption to his professional acting career.

Following thorough evaluation of medical records, ultrasound scan results, official inquiry responses, expert appraisals from the Korean Medical Association, and audio transcripts, the court ruled that the woman's claims regarding pregnancy, miscarriage, and sexual assault were completely false.

Origins of False Claims and Harassment Campaign

The dispute began in 2021 when the woman posted online claiming she was impregnated and abandoned by an "actor K," asserting she subsequently suffered a miscarriage and attaching alleged medical documents.

She further alleged that the performer refused birth control, promised to take responsibility, and coerced her into sending explicit physical footage that he later retained.

The performer immediately refuted the allegations, clarifying that he never demanded explicit photos or videos. He stated that any retained materials were kept strictly upon legal advice to serve as evidence, emphasizing that no footage was ever leaked.

Systemic Stalking Targeted Family and Associates

Beyond online posts, the actor experienced severe ongoing harassment. The defendant sent thousands of threatening text messages, reaching out directly to his mother and ex-wife. She also registered using his former phone number to impersonate him and personally visited his parents' residence and property management offices.

The performer expressed profound distress during the ordeal, highlighting that innocent people around him were suffering from continuous stalking and baseless assertions.

Why this matters: Defamation laws in South Korea carry criminal penalties, with courts increasingly handing down direct prison sentences in severe cases involving persistent online harassment and stalking.

Following the verdict, representatives for the actor affirmed a zero-tolerance policy with no leniency or settlement. In addition to criminal proceedings, his side announced plans to pursue full accountability through civil damages claims and legal enforcement procedures.

Go made his screen debut in 1997 through KBS's 19th open recruitment call and gained widespread public recognition through his long-running role in tvN's Rude Miss Young-Ae series.

https://www.dispatch.co.kr/2348500