K-pop celebrities are taking a firm stand against online trolls.
The legal representative of G-Dragon, a former member of the group Big Bang, announced on the 22nd that they are "currently pursuing legal action against individuals responsible for defaming, insulting, sexually harassing, spreading false information, and maliciously slandering G-Dragon."
They stated, "We are preparing to file several complaints with law enforcement, collecting evidence against those who infringe upon G-Dragon's rights. We will adhere to a zero-tolerance policy," emphasizing that "there will be no settlement or leniency for the accused, and they will be held fully accountable."
G-Dragon, who is currently facing drug-related charges under the Narcotics Control Act, claimed his innocence in an interview with Yonhap News TV on the 13th, stating, "I did not use drugs." He tested negative in both a rapid drug test and a more detailed analysis by the National Forensic Service using hair and nail samples. The police plan to focus on proving the charges through further investigation and interviews.
Park Ji-yoon's agency, JDB Entertainment, stated on the 13th, "Despite Park Ji-yoon's silence on the reasons for her divorce to protect her children, we have confirmed the indiscriminate spread of baseless and malicious rumors about her on YouTube, SNS, and other online and offline platforms." They revealed that they have filed a criminal complaint after gathering evidence.
They added, "We will continue to monitor and take legal action against the unfounded rumors tarnishing Park Ji-yoon's reputation. There will be no leniency or settlement, and all possible legal actions will be taken."
Park Ji-yoon is currently undergoing divorce proceedings after 14 years of marriage to former KBS announcer Choi Dong-seok, with whom she has a son and a daughter.
EDAM Entertainment, the agency of singer and actress IU, reported on the legal actions being taken following the dismissal of charges against IU in October.
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The agency stated, "We have filed a complaint for defamation due to the publication of false information against those suspected of being complainants, including numerous SNS accounts and IDs that regularly disparage the artist." They added, "The investigation is ongoing."
They continued, "Recently, reports of threats and attempted murder against the artist have escalated, leading to emergency responses from law enforcement at our office, Kakao Entertainment's office, and the artist's residence. At the time, the artist was filming, and after security and safety were confirmed by the authorities, we immediately enhanced our security measures for the artist."
They emphasized, "We will ensure that the perpetrators are severely punished for their irresponsible actions, adhering to our zero-tolerance policy. Regarding the reports of threats and attempted murder, we debated internally about making them public, considering the potential worry for fans and the risk of sensationalism. However, we decided to reveal them as a strong warning against malicious forces and to prevent potential abuse of public authority."
Lee Chan-won's agency, TNN Entertainment, announced in October, "Various malicious posts insulting and defaming our artist Lee Chan-won, spreading false information, and making threats have been appearing on various online communities and SNS. We will take strong legal action without leniency to protect our artist."
They also stated, "We have proceeded with a second lawsuit against a netizen whose charges were confirmed but continued to post malicious content. We are collecting evidence through fan reports and our monitoring and will continue to respond forcefully to any malicious posts discovered."
Big Hit Music, the agency of the global idol group BTS, announced through the fan platform Weverse in September, "We regularly take legal action against those who create malicious posts defaming, insulting, sexually harassing, and spreading false information about BTS." They added, "This quarter, we have submitted several complaints to law enforcement based on evidence collected through fan reports and our monitoring."
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They continued, "Especially, we have filed a complaint for violating the Act on the Punishment of Stalking Crimes, as we have continuously collected evidence against stalkers who sent mail and parcels to the artists' homes multiple times and caused harm to their families. As a result, we secured a provisional restraining order from the court and the case is currently under prosecution. We will continue to respond with zero tolerance to stalking crimes that invade the privacy and threaten the safety of our artists."
They concluded, "Our collection, reporting, and strong legal response to malicious posts against BTS will continue. Even if it takes time, we will persistently work to eradicate illegal acts against our artists. We promise to hold the perpetrators accountable without any settlement or leniency."
