Group BTS members V and Jungkook also won on appeal in their damages lawsuit against the operator of the YouTube channel "Taldeok Sooyongso."
On the 23rd, the Seoul Western District Court Civil Appeals Division 2-1 (Presiding Judge Lee Jun-cheol) ruled in the appeal of the damages lawsuit filed by V, Jungkook, and their agency BigHit Music against the operator of Taldeok Sooyongso, a person surnamed Park, saying, "We partially overturn the first-instance judgment against V and Jungkook, and order an additional 5 million won each to V and Jungkook."
Earlier, in the first trial held in Feb. last year, the court partially ruled for the plaintiffs, saying, "Pay 51 million won to BigHit Music, 10 million won to V, and 15 million won to Jungkook." If the appellate judgment is finalized as is, Park will have to pay a total of 86 million won to BTS, 10 million won more than in the first trial.
In Mar. 2024, V and Jungkook filed a damages suit seeking around 90 million won, saying Park defamed them by posting videos containing falsehoods. They also argued that Park should be liable for infringing copyright by using the agency's works without permission.
"Taldeok Sooyongso" is a YouTube channel that has produced videos since 2021 using malicious rumors about idols as material. In addition to BTS, it faced civil and criminal trials on charges of spreading falsehoods or defaming figures such as Ive's Jang Won-young and Kang Daniel. The channel is currently deleted.