SM Entertainment (hereinafter SM) won a damages lawsuit it filed against the operator of the YouTube channel Taldeok Prison Camp, who spread malicious false information about aespa, EXO and Red Velvet.
According to SM, the Seoul Southern District Court Civil Division 14 on the 22nd found that the operator of the Taldeok Prison Camp channel continuously produced and posted videos containing personal attack expressions targeting aespa, EXO and Red Velvet, and judged that this seriously infringed on personality rights. Accordingly, the court ordered a total of 130 million won in damages to be paid to the artists.
The court recognized not only the personal harm to the artists but also the actual damage suffered by their agency SM. The court ruled, "The videos produced and posted by the defendant directly affected public perception of the plaintiff singers, leading to a decline in their image and brand value, and because the plaintiff singers' image and external reputation are core assets of the plaintiff company, the defendant's actions ultimately caused substantial disruption to the plaintiff company's business promotion and performance of duties." The court ordered the defendant to compensate SM 40 million won, making the Taldeok Prison Camp operator liable for a total of 170 million won in damages.
The court pointed out, "The defendant spread false information about the plaintiff singers through the Taldeok Prison Camp channel, produced and posted videos containing personal attacks or contemptuous expressions, and publicly insulted the plaintiff singers, which is a clear departure from the scope of mere opinion expression and a conduct that seriously infringes on the plaintiff singers' honor and personality rights."
SM, which achieved a meaningful victory in the lawsuit, said firmly, "We will continue to take strong legal action against YouTube channels that persistently engage in various illegal acts, criminal acts, the use of personal attacks and insulting or contemptuous expressions, and the spreading of false information, in order to protect our artists going forward."
Meanwhile, earlier SM filed a criminal complaint in April 2024 against the operator of the Taldeok Prison Camp channel on charges including defamation and insult under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection. The operator who stood trial was sentenced in January 2025 by the Incheon District Court to two years in prison with a three-year suspended sentence, 120 hours of community service, and a fine of about 211.42 million won. The operator repeatedly appealed and filed a final appeal against the ruling, but the Supreme Court ultimately affirmed the lower court's decision.
[photo] OSEN DB
[OSEN]