"Famous Actress on KBS Is Perpetrator's Sister"... KBS Responds to 'Busan Fall Death' Family's Plea

KBS: "No Possible Action Based Solely on Family Ties"

KBS has responded to a petition demanding the removal of actress B, who has been identified as the sister of perpetrator A in the 'Busan Officetel Fall Death' case, stating that "it is not possible to take any special measures."

The victim's appearance before death (left) and the bruises left on the body after being stalked. Released through the 2024 MBC "True Story Expedition" broadcast. Screenshot from MBC "True Story Expedition" broadcast.

On September 16, KBS posted a response on its viewer petition board regarding the petition from the bereaved family of the 'Busan Officetel Fall Death' case, which called for actress B, the sister of the perpetrator, to be removed from a daily drama.

KBS stated, "First, we would like to express our deepest condolences to the deceased and offer our sincere sympathy to the bereaved family, who have lost a loved one and are experiencing profound grief and pain."

KBS continued, "Let us clarify the company’s stance regarding this issue. When casting for programs, KBS verifies the criminal records or social misconduct of the performers themselves." However, it went on to say, "We do not conduct prior screening of the family members of performers, nor is it realistically feasible to do so. Therefore, KBS was unable to identify this matter in advance."

Regarding the petition demanding action against the perpetrator’s relative, KBS referred to Article 13, Section 3 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea. KBS added, "As stipulated by law, 'No citizen shall be treated unfavorably because of the acts of a relative, and not their own,' and thus, we believe it is not possible to take separate measures solely on the basis of a family relationship."

Previously, on September 3, the bereaved family posted a petition titled 'We are the bereaved family of the Busan Officetel Fall Death' on the KBS viewer petition board. The family expressed their suffering, stating, "We unjustly lost our beloved daughter." The bereaved family claimed that their daughter had suffered from ongoing stalking by the perpetrator before eventually passing away.

The family pointed out that members of the perpetrator's family are still engaged in broadcasting activities. The petitioner stated, "The perpetrator's family, who took away my daughter, continues to live a peaceful daily life." In particular, "The perpetrator's sister is now appearing in a prominent role in a KBS evening daily drama, smiling and crying on TV as an actress," the family claimed.

The family pleaded, "Our family’s daughter died in such an unjust way, yet the perpetrator’s family’s daughter is thriving as an actress. How can the world be so unfair?" They concluded by addressing KBS, "We ask KBS: Did you know about this? Please clarify your position, and as a public broadcaster, we ask you to take responsible action."

The controversial case occurred in January 2024 at an officetel in Busanjin-gu, Busan. At the time, a woman in her twenties fell to her death during an argument with her ex-boyfriend, A.

During the police investigation, it was revealed that A had continuously assaulted and stalked the victim. A was found to have threatened the victim, who had requested a breakup, and banged on her front door for 17 hours.

A was later indicted on charges of special intimidation, intimidation, property damage, defiant trespass, and violation of the Stalking Punishment Act. In the first trial, the court sentenced him to three years and six months in prison and ordered him to complete a 40-hour stalking treatment program. However, on appeal, taking into account his efforts to repair the harm to the victim, the sentence was reduced to three years and two months.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.