K-Pop Stars Take Action Against Malicious Comments, Toxic YouTubers

연합뉴스 / 2024-04-11 17:04:05

▲ K-pop girl group NewJeans pose for photographers at the 38th Golden Disc Awards ceremony in Jakarta on Jan. 6, 2024, in this photo provided by the event's organizer. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, April (Yonhap) -- K-pop stars are raising their voices against the increasingly serious issue of malicious defamation online.

According to ADOR, the agency of NEWJEANS, they recently requested Google to disclose the identity of a YouTuber who has been spreading malicious posts damaging NEWJEANS's reputation.

ADOR stated, "It is true that we are proceeding with lawsuits against unauthorized false information posted on YouTube," and "We regularly take legal actions against infringements of artists' rights."

If this request is accepted, as reported by The New York Times (NYT), ADOR will be able to file a defamation lawsuit against the YouTuber in Korea.

It was reported that ADOR had filed a police report against this YouTuber, but the investigation could not proceed as the identity of the account owner was not identified.

▲ Jang Wonyoung, a member of K-pop girl group Ive, poses for the camera, before leaving for Paris on Sept. 24, 2022, in this photo captured from her Instagram account. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Recently, singer BoA, who has been suffering from malicious comments, also appears to be applying for a court order to disclose the identity of malicious YouTubers.

Her agency, SM Entertainment, announced, "We have already collected sufficient evidence for numerous postings and are investigating and suing specific cases of cyber defamation."

Previously, domestic K-pop idol agencies have been struggling with defamation lawsuits against malicious rumor spreaders on social media platforms (SNS). However, it has been challenging to identify users based on foreign platforms like YouTube.

Last year, when Starship Entertainment, which houses the group IVE, obtained a court order to disclose a YouTuber's identity, it opened a way to crackdown on so-called cyber lecturers.

At that time, the target of the identity disclosure was a woman surnamed Park, the operator of YouTube channel 'Taldeoksuyongso,' which allegedly spread malicious rumors about IVE member Jang Won-young.

Based on this information, the company filed a lawsuit against Park, and in January of this year, a Korean court ruled in favor of Jang Won-young in a damages suit against Park.

▲ A concept photo of singer BoA, provided by SM Entertainment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

A music industry insider explained, "In a situation where police investigations can only proceed if the identity of malicious commenters is identified, the fact that YouTube user identities can now be confirmed is significant."

The reason agencies are actively pursuing lawsuits is because the mental distress artists endure is substantial.

In fact, due to excessive defamatory comments, BoA recently posted on her SNS, "My contract is until December 31, 2025," implying retirement and causing concern among fans.

SM Entertainment stated that BoA is "going through a very difficult time, experiencing significant mental distress," and they plan to prosecute those involved without leniency or agreement.

ADOR has also emphasized its position on ensuring that the relevant parties receive punishment, particularly as they have underage members.