Jisoo and her agency BLISSOO moved to contain escalating reputational fallout Monday after her legal representatives at Kim & Chang issued a detailed statement denying any connection to a criminal case involving a man alleged to be her older brother, amid intensifying online speculation and additional allegations.
The statement, released by attorney Eun Hyun Ho, follows reports on April 16 that a man identified as "Mr. A" had been arrested on suspicion of sexually molesting a female broadcast jockey. As speculation spread linking the suspect to the K-pop star, further unverified claims emerged online, including accusations of domestic violence from a person identifying herself as the man's spouse.
The agency's legal response was unusually direct and expansive, emphasizing that the artist has no involvement in the matter. "First, the matter currently being raised is entirely unrelated to the artist and BLISSOO. Much of the information circulating online consists of unverified speculation or clearly false claims," the statement said.
It further sought to establish distance between the singer's personal life and the individual under investigation, noting her long-standing independence. "The artist began her trainee life at a young age and has lived independently for many years, apart from her family. As such, she is not in a position to be aware of or involved in the private matters of the individual in question."
The legal team also addressed claims related to the structure and ownership of BLISSOO, a focal point of online rumors. "Additionally, during the preparatory stages of establishing BLISSOO, the artist did receive limited advice and assistance from family members in the form of relaying communications during discussions with relevant parties. However, at no point-then or now-have family members received compensation from BLISSOO or participated in any management or decision-making processes."
In particular, the agency rejected allegations that the individual had any formal business role. "In particular, claims circulating in some media outlets and online stating that 'the individual co-founded the company with the artist' or that 'the individual serves as part of BLISSOO's management or as its CEO' are entirely false. We clearly state that the individual has no legal or managerial ties to BLISSOO."
The statement also underscored that no financial or legal support had been provided. "Furthermore, neither BLISSOO nor the artist has provided any financial or legal support to the individual, nor do they have any plans to do so in the future. The artist also has no communication or involvement with the individual regarding this matter."
Beyond clarifying factual claims, the agency framed the issue as a broader case of reputational harm in the digital media ecosystem. "Despite this, the continued dissemination of false information, as well as the use of the artist's name, likeness, or image in connection with unrelated matters, constitutes a clear violation of rights and defamation."
The legal warning outlined specific enforcement steps, signaling a zero-tolerance posture toward misinformation:
- "The creation and distribution of content containing false information and defamatory claims"
- "The use of the artist's name, likeness, or image in unrelated matters"
- "The publication or creation of content based on unverified or speculative information"
The statement concluded with a firm escalation in tone, stating, "In particular, we make it clear that we will respond firmly-without leniency or settlement-to those who repeatedly or maliciously create and disseminate such content."
