With negative public sentiment toward Yoo Jae-suk spreading amid the controversies involving actors Lee Yi-kyung and Cho Sae-ho, the agency notified it would take legal action against malicious posts and comments.
On the 5th, agency Antenna uploaded a lengthy notice through its official account. In the notice, Antenna said, "Recently, numerous acts that go beyond freedom of expression and damage the dignity of our artists have been confirmed. Malicious posts such as spreading false information, personal attacks, abusive language and swearing have raised concerns not only about the artists but also about mental harm to fans."
It added, "The company is collecting materials on relevant posts and comments after legal consultation and internal monitoring, and plans to take legal measures against authors of malicious posts and comments that defame our artists' reputations. In addition, we inform you that consuming or redistributing unconfirmed content as if it were true may also be subject to the same legal responsibility," and demanded legal action.
It also urged, "Fans, please report malicious posts and comments to the email account below when you find them. In particular, reports on some closed communities and private social media accounts have been very helpful in our legal procedures," actively encouraging reports.
This is believed to be a measure taken in response to the recent spread of malicious posts and comments about Yoo Jae-suk among the agency's artists. In fact, Yoo Jae-suk had to endure embarrassment as people around him became embroiled in successive controversies.
It began on the 10th, when revelations about actor Lee Yi-kyung's private life appeared. At the time, a netizen identified as A, who said she was a German woman, uploaded screenshots of messages she said were conversations with Lee Yi-kyung that included sexual remarks, and agency Sangyoung ENT rebutted, "None of this is true. We are preparing legal action for damage caused by spreading false information and malicious rumors." A later apologized saying, "It was AI," and, "What started as a joke seems to have become real and I feel guilty," but then reversed her position again claiming her original assertions were true, causing confusion.
Separately from whether the claims are true, Lee Yi-kyung left MBC's Hangout With Yoo amid the controversy and was also unable to appear on KBS2's The Return of SUPERMAN, where he had been scheduled to appear. He then posted personally, saying, "A few days ago I visited the Seoul Gangnam Police Station and gave a statement as the complainant. I conveyed my position on the rumors and completed the complaint procedure for defamation by threats and the dissemination of false information."
But in the process he said Hangout With Yoo producers urged him to step down and that the previously controversial "myeonchigi" was also requested by the production team, expressing his grievance. In the departure broadcast Yoo Jae-suk had explained the background, saying, "I stepped down because I have a lot of drama and film schedules." Some linked Lee Yi-kyung's departure from Hangout With Yoo to Yoo Jae-suk and spread speculation, and Hangout With Yoo clarified, "From the production side, we requested that cast members mention voluntary withdrawal due to schedules coordinated with their agencies as the minimum courtesy to Mr. Lee Yi-kyung, believing it to be a consideration for him, and the cast followed our request out of consideration for Mr. Lee Yi-kyung. We ask that you refrain from criticizing or making unfounded guesses about other cast members."
In addition, on the 4th a 'gang involvement' allegation about Cho Sae-ho circulated mainly on social media. Claims said Cho Sae-ho was an acquaintance of Mr. Choi, a member of an organized crime group that commits illegal crimes, that he promoted a franchise run by Choi or received expensive gifts from him. The controversy once again spread to Yoo Jae-suk because Cho Sae-ho is a junior treasured by Yoo and has a long relationship with him, including appearing together on tvN's You Quiz on the Block. Some netizens even pushed the narrative as if Yoo Jae-suk knew of Cho Sae-ho's misconduct and condoned him.
Meanwhile, Cho Sae-ho's agency A2Z Entertainment dismissed the claims, saying, "The allegations that Cho Sae-ho was directly or indirectly involved in Mr. Choi's actions or that Cho Sae-ho received money or expensive gifts from Mr. Choi are merely B's personal speculation and are not true." It added that regarding B, who raised the allegations, "We are actively considering criminal and civil legal action for crimes such as defamation by spreading false information and obstruction of business against the allegations made about our artist."
[photo] OSEN DB
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