A representative of the fan group "Team Bunnies," which raised donations saying it would respond to malicious posts targeting the idol group NewJeans, has been sent to the juvenile division of the family court on charges of violating the Act on the Collection and Use of Donations. The measure took into account that the person is a minor.
According to ChosunBiz reporting compiled on the 28th, the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office determined there were indications of legal violations by A, a Team Bunnies representative (a minor) suspected of violating the Act on the Collection and Use of Donations, and decided to refer the case to the juvenile division of the Seoul Family Court. The prosecution is said to have referred the case as a protective case procedure rather than criminal punishment after comprehensively considering A's age and the severity of the act.
A legal community source said, "It is highly likely this happened because the relevant law was not well understood," and noted, "Minors are, in principle, subject to the Juvenile Act, and it was viewed as not a matter for punishment."
The juvenile division of the family court will review A's age, the degree of the act, and the possibility of reformation to deliberate whether to handle it as a protective case. If necessary, it can issue protective dispositions such as admonition, community service, or probation, and if deemed minor, it will conclude with "no disposition."
Team Bunnies is part of the NewJeans fandom "Bunnies," a fan group formed to support NewJeans when the conflict between HYBE and ADOR intensified last year.
On Oct. 21 last year, they said they would file complaints against malicious posts related to NewJeans and conducted an online fundraising drive. The fundraiser surpassed 50 million won in about eight hours. However, controversy over a violation of the Act on the Collection and Use of Donations arose immediately.
Under the current Act on the Collection and Use of Donations, those seeking to raise donations of 10 million won or more must register with the competent authority. Violations are punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won. An internet user filed a civil complaint through the e-People petition system, and the Seoul Metropolitan Government said the fundraiser had not been reported in advance.
The donations are reportedly frozen at present. When investigative authorities are conducting an investigation, withdrawals of the funds are restricted to preserve evidence. Depending on the results of the investigation, unused amounts are returned to donors in accordance with the law.
Team Bunnies drew significant attention during the conflict between HYBE and former CEO Min. Although its identity was not officially revealed, it described itself as "a group of experts from all walks of life who support NewJeans."
They supported NewJeans member Hanni's attendance at the National Assembly's parliamentary audit and sent text messages and faxes to many lawmakers to demand the attendance of HYBE officials. Saying they had obtained a comparison between the planning proposal for Belift Lab Inc.'s idol group ILLIT and ADOR's NewJeans planning proposal, they also disclosed the corporations' confidential materials.
The NewJeans fandom "Bunnies" also issued a message saying, "Team Bunnies does not represent the opinions of the entire fandom."