K-pop artists continue their relentless fight against malicious commenters.
Recently, IVE's Jang Wonyoung received a significant legal victory. The Seoul Central District Court ruled partially in favor of Wonyoung in a 100 million won damage lawsuit against the YouTube channel 'Taldeoksooyongso' on December 21, 2023. The lawsuit, filed in October 2023, proceeded without a response from the defendant, leading the court to consider it a default judgment in Wonyoung's favor.
'Taldeoksooyongso' is a cyber slander channel that has been spreading false information and malicious rumors about various K-pop artists, drawing criticism from fans, especially for targeting Jang Wonyoung and others. In response, Starship Entertainment, Wonyoung's agency, began strong legal action against the channel in July 2023.
Starship Entertainment stated, "We have been pursuing criminal and civil lawsuits against 'Taldeoksooyongso' since November 2022, including lawsuits abroad. 'Taldeoksooyongso' has continuously spread false information, causing serious defamation and has interfered with our business, causing severe distress to our artists and fans. We are committed to holding them legally responsible."
ADOR, the agency of NewJeans, is also taking strict measures against continuous malicious comments directed at their members. NewJeans' Minji became the center of attention after apologizing for her remarks in a recent incident known as the 'Kalguksu Incident'. Following a casual comment during a live stream, a debate erupted, leading Minji to apologize on another live broadcast.
G-Dragon, who recently moved to Galaxy Corporation after leaving YG Entertainment, has also spoken about his struggles with malicious comments. On January 21, Galaxy Corporation held a press conference at JW Marriott Hotel in Banpo-dong, Seoul, addressing G-Dragon's drug allegations and plans for his future activities.
Jo Sung-hae, an executive at Galaxy Corporation, stated, "G-Dragon, who was not involved in any entertainment industry drug cases, had a hard time due to excessive speculation and distorted rumors. We ask that all related posts defaming G-Dragon be deleted by December 28, 2023. If not, we will respond strongly without leniency."
