Netizen Is Found Guilty Of Defaming IU And Is Fined 3 Million KRW — Label Warns Of Further Legal Action
A netizen was fined ₩3.00 million KRW (about $2,300 USD) for writing malicious comments about IU.
IU’s label, EDAM Entertainment, released a statement revealing the news.
In the statement, the agency revealed that the netizen had written malicious comments and unfounded rumors about the idol, including during police investigations.
The (netizen) has been active on DC Inside as well as several online communities, posting unfounded rumors and personal attacks and has committed defamation against IU for a year. We have collected these posts as evidence and filed a report. The perpetrator would continue to insult and defame IU in the same fashion, even during the investigation. We collected this and turned it in as additional evidence to the investigator.
— EDAM Entertainment
The agency revealed that the netizen pleaded guilty during the investigation and, as a result, was fined ₩3.00 million KRW (about $2,300 USD).
The perpetrator pleaded guilty to the charges during the investigation and, as a result, was found guilty of defamation and was fined ₩3.00 million KRW (about $2,300 USD).
— EDAM Entertainment
The agency aslo warned future perpetrators that the label would continue to proactively protect its artists.
In addition, if anyone hides behind their anonymity to commit malicious acts against our artists through online communities and message boards, we will take strict measures and do our best to punish them legally. We would like to specifically state that we will not take leniency against (perpetrators).
— EDAM Entertainment
The label concluded its statement by thanking the fans and supporters, and promised it would continue to do its best to bring malicious commenters to justice.
To this, your (fans) reports and submitted evidence have helped us monitor for malicious content. Although it is difficult for us to fully fathom how it must feel for you to see insults and malicious writings about those you care about, we at EDAM Entertainment will do our best until malicious comments are completely eradicated.
Lastly, EDAM Entertainment will do its best so that all of the pretty words existing in the world can reach IU, Shin Se Kyung, WOODZ, and you, the fans. Thank you.
— EDAM Entertainment
This isn’t the first time IU has brought a malicious commenter to justice. According to a news report, the idol’s agency has punished perpetrators since 2016. One particularly heinous perpetrator in 2019 was sentenced to 8 months in prison, suspended for two years, 180 hours of community service, and would have to attend 40 hours of sexual assault lectures.
EDAM Entertainment’s full statement is below.
Hello, This is EDAM Entertainment.
First, we would like to thank the fans who have loved and supported our artists IU, Shin Se Kyung, and WOODZ.
As we have stated previously in earlier statements, we are actively taking legal action against those who write or posts insults, defamation, verbal abuse, libel, or content deemed invasive to our artists’ privacy, etc.
In regards to this, to prevent further incidents, we are actively collecting evidence of malicious content and are constantly monitoring (the internet), and together with our legal team are doing our best to protect (our artists).
The (netizen) has been active on DC Inside as well as several online communities, posting unfounded rumors and personal attacks and has committed defamation against IU for a year. We have collected these posts as evidence and filed a report.
The perpetrator would continue to insult and defame IU in the same fashion, even during the investigation. We collected this and turned it in as additional evidence to the investigator.
The perpetrator pleaded guilty to the charges during the investigation and, as a result, was found guilty of defamation and was fined ₩3.00 million KRW (about $2,300 USD).
In addition, if anyone hides behind their anonymity to commit malicious acts against our artists through online communities and message boards, we will take strict measures and do our best to punish them legally. We would like to specifically state that we will not take leniency against (perpetrators).
Also, although, as per the request of investigators, we can’t disclose the progress of any particular investigation, we are continuously taking legal action.
To this, your (fans) reports and submitted evidence have helped us monitor for malicious content. Although it is difficult for us to fully fathom how it must feel for you to see insults and malicious writings about those you care about, we at EDAM Entertainment will do our best until malicious comments are completely eradicated.
Lastly, EDAM Entertainment will do its best so that all of the pretty words existing in the world can reach IU, Shin Se Kyung, WOODZ, and you, the fans. Thank you.
— EDAM Entertainment
