Former CEO of YoungTak's Agency Sentenced to Prison for Music Chart Manipulation
In a groundbreaking verdict that has sent shockwaves through the music industry, the former CEO of singer YoungTak's agency has been handed an eight-month prison sentence for tampering with music charts. The sentencing hearing, conducted by the 5th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court, saw 11 individuals being tried for their involvement in artificially boosting music rankings.
The court wasted no time in delivering justice as it swiftly sentenced Lee Jae Gyu, the ex-CEO of Milagro (Young Tak’s former agency), to eight months behind bars, with immediate detention being ordered. Other collaborators in the illicit scheme also faced the consequences, receiving sentences ranging from probation to one year and six months in prison.
Describing chart manipulation as a grave offense that undermines the integrity of music distribution and deceives consumers, the court emphasized the need for severe punishment to deter such unethical practices that jeopardize the dreams of aspiring artists.
Lee Jae Gyu and his accomplices were indicted on charges of manipulating rankings on popular domestic music streaming platforms while overseeing operations at Young Tak’s former agency. Employing a sophisticated scheme that involved hundreds of virtual PCs, purchased IP addresses, and illegally obtained personal data, they orchestrated over 1.7 million artificial streams across 15 songs to skew the rankings in their favor. The group even went to the extent of enlisting brokers and evading security measures of music sites to avoid detection.
During the trial, Lee Jae Gyu and his co-defendants had varying responses to the charges, with some admitting guilt and others arguing that their actions were part of regular marketing tactics rather than manipulation. Despite attempts to justify their actions, the prosecution was swift in identifying and prosecuting those responsible for the manipulation of songs, including hits by Young Tak, Nature, and KCM.
As the case wrapped up, prosecutors sought substantial prison terms for the key figures involved in the scandal. While the controversy unfolded, singer Young Tak himself emerged unscathed, maintaining his innocence and expressing relief that he was not implicated in the wrongdoing.
The verdict marks a significant victory in the battle against music chart manipulation in South Korea, serving as a stern warning to those who seek to unfairly influence digital rankings for personal gain.