A 40-year-old woman in South Korea has been fined 3 million won ($2,200) for posting malicious comments about K-pop star IU. This is the second time she has been punished for similar offenses. The Seoul Central District Court ruled against the woman, surnamed Kim, for posting s*xually offensive remarks and false claims about IU’s agency bribing judges.
Kim denied writing the comments and argued they did not specifically target IU. She also claimed her words did not damage the singer’s reputation. However, the court rejected her defense, noting she had shown no remorse and had previous convictions for similar crimes.
Previous Offense and Legal Actions
In April 2022, Kim posted derogatory comments about IU’s singing and fashion sense. She was fined 3 million won in December 2023 for those remarks. Despite her claims that the comments were personal opinions and that her mental condition affected her language skills, the court found her guilty.
IU’s agency, Edam Entertainment, has been aggressively pursuing legal action against online harassers. As of November 2024, the agency has filed criminal complaints against 180 individuals for spreading false information, insults, and threats against IU.
“The defendant has denied the charges, shown no remorse, and has not been forgiven by the victim,” the court stated.
Ongoing Legal Battles Against Online Harassment
Edam Entertainment has a zero-tolerance policy against malicious comments. The agency works with law firms to track down offenders, including those using foreign servers. In some cases, they have filed civil lawsuits for damages in addition to criminal complaints.
“We have no intention of reaching settlements or offering leniency to any perpetrators of these illegal acts,” the agency said in a statement.
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IU, one of South Korea’s most beloved celebrities, has faced online attacks for years. She has taken legal action against defamation, deepfake content, and privacy violations. Fans can report malicious comments to her agency via email.
Credits: The Korea Herald, IU’s Instagram
