The influencer "Honorary Briton" Baek Jin-kyung, who has 1.57 million followers on social media, said it is a "clear falsehood" regarding rumors spreading online and vowed to take a strong stance.
Baek Jin-kyung's agency drew a line in an official statement, saying, "The content currently being posted and circulated on social media and various online communities is false information that does not at all correspond with objective facts." It added, "The baseless, distorted claims are severely damaging the reputation of the artist and the company and constitute illegal acts with malicious intent."
The agency especially said it would follow a zero-tolerance principle, announcing, "We will immediately proceed with strong legal action, including civil and criminal complaints, against the author of the post without any settlement or adjustment." It also requested that people refrain from secondary spreading, saying that sharing or repackaging and distributing the false content may result in the same legal responsibility. It added that it is currently collecting and preserving related evidence.
This response is understood to be due to growing concerns over reputational damage as unverified claims have recently spread rapidly online. The agency reiterated, "We will hold those who spread false information and engage in malicious slander fully accountable under the law and principles without leniency."
When the news was reported, netizens generally rallied in support of Baek Jin-kyung. Messages of encouragement continued, such as, "Rumors often follow when you become famous," "A rumor is just a rumor," "I hope you weren't hurt by baseless speculation," "Good job taking a strong stance," and "Baseless talk must stop." Some criticized the structure that allows spread without fact-checking, saying, "The problem is the mechanism that spreads things without verifying facts," calling for reflection on online rumor culture.
The account that actually posted the rumor has been deleted
Meanwhile, Baek Jin-kyung is an influencer who runs the YouTube channel "Honorary Briton" and has gained popularity with various content, and she has 1.57 million followers on social media alone.
[Photo] 'SNS'
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