Former management representative Mr. Kim, indicted for his affiliation with Boys Over Flowers actress Jang Ja Yeon's suicide, and her defender Mr. Yoo, who was Jang Ja Yeon's former manager, met face to face on the earlier today for the trial's first hearing. Both Kim and Yoo entered the courtroom with their lawyers ten minutes before the hearing and took a seat in the 2nd row. As the hearing began, each took their place at the witness stand where the judge then checked their identification. Kim and Yoo stated their resident registration number, job, and address. Kim stated that he had quit his job at an entertainment company and is currently unemployed. After the identification process, the prosecuting attorney read the official arraignment and the facts constituting the offense- in regards to Kim's assault and blackmail charge and Yoo's defamation of character charge. Through his deposition, Kim's lawyer stated that Kim acknowledges the fact that he hit Jang Ja Yeon with a water bottle but denies ever hitting her with his hands. He also stated that he didn't believe his calls and text messages were threatening. Yoo's lawyer claimed that although Yoo did spread information about Jang Ja Yeon's death through the internet and the press, whether or not this should be considered defamation of character should be decided by the law. This first hearing came to a close after about 30 minutes, and the next hearing, scheduled for 30th, will entail more detailed questioning and further interrogations. Kim and Yoo did not exchange glances throughout the entire hearing and as soon as they were dismissed, both rushed out of the courtroom and into their cars. Hopefully, the legal system in Korea will help dignify Jang Ja Yeon's death through the prosecution of the culprit and spread the message that this type of behavior will not be tolerated. Life is so precious and those who compromise individuals' will to live should ultimately pay the price through the justice system. R.I.P Jang Ja Yeon.