The YouTuber 'Taldeoksyuyongso', who spread fake news about IVE's Jang Wonyoung and inflicted deep pain on fans and the artist, is ultimately facing legal judgment, marking the successful culmination of the persistent and relentless efforts of the agency Starship Entertainment. This achievement goes beyond merely protecting the artist; it represents a sincere battle to uproot the social malady known as 'cyber recka'.
Since 2022, Starship Entertainment has declared a 'war against malicious actors and cyber recka' to eradicate malicious acts against its artists. In addition to Jang Wonyoung, the agency has initiated civil and criminal lawsuits against individual A, the operator of 'Taldeoksyuyongso', who has caused harm by producing fake news about numerous stars, and has employed the rare 'discovery' system in the U.S. within the country. As a result, the agency has uncovered the identity of individual A, who was hidden behind anonymity online, setting a significant precedent by bringing them to court.
During the trial process, individual A claimed public interest, but the court did not accept this. On the 4th, the Seoul Central District Court issued a partial victory ruling in favor of Starship Entertainment in the damages lawsuit it filed against individual A, ordering A to pay 50 million won. The court determined that A's actions of creating and posting false videos had harmed the reputation and credibility of Starship, and particularly pointed out that videos related to Jang Wonyoung were merely extracts of subjective edits that were not based on objective facts and blamed posts with unclear sources.
Starship Entertainment's official stance on this ruling shows how seriously they view this matter, going beyond mere victory. They explained that it has set a significant precedent for holding online malicious actions accountable, suggesting that this ruling has positive implications for the entire K-pop industry. In this process, Starship Entertainment expresses deep gratitude to fans who provided support through continuous attention and reports, cultural organizations that formed social consensus, legal representatives, and the courts and investigative agencies that wielded strict standards of law, as well as other victims.
The fact that individual A has been held legally responsible at a level exceeding the economic benefits gained from illegal activities is expected to serve as a strong warning to future 'cyber recka'. Starship Entertainment emphasized that they have sent a strong warning to so-called 'cyber recka' who generate revenue through defamatory and insulting content, clearly stating that they will rigorously hold legal responsibility for all illegal acts through ongoing monitoring.
The persistent efforts of Starship Entertainment to protect Jang Wonyoung have ultimately led to the fruit of legal judgment, suggesting that it could be a crucial turning point in eradicating 'cyber recka' that infect K-pop. Starship Entertainment's 'complete victory' is expected to significantly contribute to creating a healthier and more transparent K-pop ecosystem.
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