Kim Junsu, a former member of TVXQ! and well-known solo artist, has been at the center of multiple controversies, including an alleged blackmail case and renewed criticism over fan treatment. Palm Tree Island, Junsu’s management company, has issued an official statement addressing the issues and detailing its response.
Alleged Blackmail Case
Reports revealed that a female AfreecaTV streamer, identified only as “A,” extorted over ₩800 million KRW (approximately $569,000 USD) from Kim Junsu. The alleged blackmail occurred in 101 separate instances from September 2020 to recent months. After meeting Junsu in 2019, “A” reportedly used private audio recordings discussing intimate topics to threaten him, coercing payments for her silence.
Controversy Over Fan Gifts
Simultaneously, discussions online have resurfaced regarding Junsu’s disparity in gift quality between those prepared for fans and a musical colleague. Fans expressed disappointment over the stark difference, reigniting debates about the artist’s relationship with his supporters.
Palm Tree Island’s Official Statement
On November 19, Palm Tree Island released a comprehensive statement on Junsu’s Twitter account. The agency reiterated its gratitude for fans’ support while announcing strict legal measures against any form of malicious slander or defamation targeting the artist.
“Hello,
This is Palm Tree Island.First of all, we sincerely thank you for your unwavering interest and support for Kim Junsu. Our company takes any malicious slander, defamation, and personal attacks directed at the artist extremely seriously.
We are hereby informing you that we have appointed the law firm Kim & Chang to initiate strong legal action. Malicious slander, defamatory posts, and the spread of baseless rumors are considered clear criminal acts, and we will take civil and criminal measures without any negotiation or leniency.
We have already secured sufficient related evidence and are proceeding with the legal process based on this. We are thoroughly collecting additional data on malicious posts and the spread of false information that continue to occur, and all collected evidence has already been submitted to the law firm.
In particular, we are intensively monitoring malicious posts occurring in specific online communities such as DC Inside, Theqoo, Instiz, Daum Cafe, and Nate Pann. We make it clear that any malicious behavior exploiting anonymity to harm the artist will be met with strong legal action without any exception or leniency.
Furthermore, we are thoroughly investigating the actions of certain netizens who continue to spread reckless false information and distorted criticism, and all confirmed cases will be dealt with strictly through legal procedures.
We will continue to do our best to protect the rights and interests of the artist, and we thank you for your continued interest and cooperation.
Thank you.”
— Palm Tree Island
Palm Tree Island’s Stance
The agency emphasized its zero-tolerance policy against defamatory actions and announced its collaboration with Kim & Chang, a prominent law firm, to pursue both civil and criminal measures. The statement highlighted the ongoing efforts to monitor harmful activities across multiple online platforms, ensuring strict legal action without leniency.
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