BTS's side has warned of a tough response without leniency against malicious posts and invasions of privacy.
Big Hit Music, BTS's agency, on the 26th released the status of legal actions related to infringements of BTS's rights and interests as of the first quarter of 2026.
The agency said, "In this first quarter as well, we have been monitoring artist-related posts posted on domestic communities, music sites and SNS channels, and based on reports from fans we pursued complaints against those who wrote malicious posts," and said, "Based on past complaints we filed, many suspects have been found guilty of insult and defamation under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, and fines have been imposed on each."
It continued, "We recognize patterns and organized movements in which similar malicious posts about the artist are posted simultaneously on multiple communities and SNS and negative comments are mass-produced," and, "We are carrying out procedures necessary for civil and criminal litigation such as evidence collection, and we warn that even posts or comments that have already been deleted can be subject to punishment. We will proceed with the most aggressive legal measures possible without any settlement or leniency," it emphasized.
The agency also said it is taking active artist protection measures such as 24-hour continuous evidence collection and immediate police reports regarding invasions of privacy and stalking acts at artists' residences, saying, "For perpetrators who continued stalking, they were recently indicted in custody on charges of violating the Stalking Punishment Act and trespassing and are currently on trial. We will take all necessary measures to ensure the perpetrator is punished severely," it warned.
It added, "Unauthorized visits to or following an artist's residence, waiting for or watching an artist near their residence, photographing the residence and other acts that threaten the artist's privacy and safety, creating and spreading defamatory and malicious posts and false rumors related to the artist's private life are not only crimes but also actions that cause deep anxiety and stress to the artist. We respond to criminal acts that infringe on the artist's privacy with a principle of zero tolerance," the agency said.
Big Hit Music said it is also actively taking protective measures regarding infringements of BTS's intellectual property, noting, "As a result of continuous online and offline crackdowns related to BTS, recently there has been some improvement, such as a reduction in illegal sales on public online distribution channels. In addition, we are actively conducting crackdowns on wholesale suppliers of illegal goods, areas around concert venues, customs and online illegal goods sales platforms in cooperation with the Ministry of Intellectual Property, the Korea Customs Service and special judicial police officers."
Meanwhile, BTS released their fifth full-length album ARIRANG on the 20th and made a comeback as a complete group for the first time in about three years and nine months.
The following is the agency's full statement.
Hello.
This is Big Hit Music.
As of the first quarter of 2026, we provide information on the status of legal actions related to infringements of BTS's rights and interests.
1. Legal measures related to organized and repeated malicious posts
In this first quarter as well, we have been monitoring artist-related posts posted on domestic communities [Theqoo, Instiz, Naver, Daum (Women's Generation, Jjukppang, Soul Dresser, etc.), Nate, DIMITORY, DC Inside galleries for BTS, male celebrities, domestic entertainment galleries and many other galleries, Ilgan Best, FM Korea, etc.], music sites (Melon, Bugs Music, Genie Music, etc.), and overseas SNS channels (Threads, X, Instagram, YouTube, etc.), and based on reports from fans we pursued complaints against those who wrote malicious posts.
Based on past complaints we filed, many suspects were found guilty of insult and defamation under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, and fines were imposed. Acts that use slanderous and insulting expressions about the artist or create and spread rumors based on false facts are all actions that infringe on the artist's rights and interests.
In particular, we recognize patterns and organized movements in which similar malicious posts about the artist are posted simultaneously on multiple communities including Theqoo and on SNS and negative comments are mass-produced. In relation to this, we have greatly expanded the personnel for collecting evidence of malicious posts in addition to using a real-time monitoring system. Through this we are carrying out procedures necessary for civil and criminal litigation such as evidence collection, and we warn that even posts or comments that have already been deleted can be subject to punishment. We will proceed with the most aggressive legal measures possible without any settlement or leniency.
Also, regarding acts that encourage and spread false rumors and fake news about the artist's albums, performances and content, or post excessive malicious posts and organized comments, we are continuously collecting evidence at this time and will pursue legal responsibility to the end. All acts, including explicit insults or violent expressions, as well as hateful, malicious slander and disparaging expressions that cunningly try to avoid punishment, are all included in complaints without exception. We will take stern legal action against malicious acts that damage the artist's reputation and achievements and cause mental suffering to the artist.
Meanwhile, as malicious post spamming and posting against the artist continued and despite our repeated warnings and requests for cooperation, we also inform you that we are considering legal action against certain communities that have allowed repeated malicious posts and malicious comment posting about the artist to remain.
2. Response to invasions of privacy and stalking acts at artists' residences
We are also taking active artist protection measures such as 24-hour continuous evidence collection and immediate police reports regarding stalking acts such as attempts to approach a residence that occurred near an artist's home. Even a single stalking act can be punished under current law for violating the Stalking Punishment Act and trespassing, and in relation to this we are cooperating as much as possible with investigative agencies' requests, such as submitting materials. Nevertheless, for perpetrators who continued stalking, they were recently indicted in custody on charges of violating the Stalking Punishment Act and trespassing and are currently on trial. We will take all necessary measures to ensure the perpetrator is punished severely.
Unauthorized visits to or following an artist's residence, waiting for or watching an artist near their residence, photographing the residence and other acts that threaten the artist's privacy and safety, creating and spreading defamatory and malicious posts and false rumors related to the artist's private life are not only crimes but also actions that cause deep anxiety and stress to the artist. We respond to criminal acts that infringe on the artist's privacy with a principle of zero tolerance. We ask for fans' cooperation so that the spirit of support for the artist can lead to a mature fan culture.
3. Crackdown on infringement of BTS's IP (intellectual property rights)
Meanwhile, we are also actively taking protective measures regarding infringements of BTS's IP. As a result of continuous online and offline crackdowns related to BTS, recently there has been some improvement, such as a reduction in illegal sales on public online distribution channels. In addition, we are actively conducting crackdowns on wholesale suppliers of illegal goods, areas around concert venues, customs and online illegal goods sales platforms in cooperation with the Ministry of Intellectual Property, the Korea Customs Service and special judicial police officers.
Illegal goods using the artist's IP not only infringe the artist's rights and interests by their production and sale, but also carry a high risk of financial damage to fans in the process of purchasing illegal goods, such as poor quality, no refunds and shipping scams. To protect the artist's IP and prevent damage to fans, we ask that you refrain from purchasing illegal goods as much as possible.
Reports from fans have been a great help in legal measures to protect the artist's rights and interests. If you discover cases that infringe on the artist's rights and interests, please report them to the 'HYBE artist rights infringement reporting site.'
We sincerely thank everyone who loves BTS.
We will continue to implement artist protection measures and carry out even more active responses.
Thank you. [Photo] Big Hit Music [OSEN]