Kang Daniel has achieved a significant legal victory in his defamation case against the controversial YouTuber Sojang. On September 11, 2024, the Seoul Central District Court ruled in favor of Kang Daniel, ordering Sojang to pay a fine of 10 million KRW. This amount is more than three times the original fine requested by the prosecution. Kang Daniel’s legal team now plans to pursue additional civil litigation against Sojang.
Background of the Case
The defamation lawsuit against Sojang began in July 2022. Kang Daniel‘s agency and the law firm Liu filed a criminal complaint against Sojang, who had used the alias “Take Off the Fandom” to spread defamatory content online. Initially, the investigation faced challenges as Sojang’s identity was not known.
In July 2023, Sojang’s identity was confirmed, allowing the investigation to continue. Initially, Sojang received a summary indictment with a fine of 3 million KRW. However, Kang Daniel’s legal team was not satisfied with this minor penalty and requested a formal trial.
Court Decision and Reactions
The court’s recent decision resulted in Sojang being fined 10 million KRW. This judgment was a significant increase from the original sentence and reflects the severity of the defamation.
ARA Entertainment, Kang Daniel’s agency, released a statement highlighting the emotional and psychological impact the prolonged legal process had on Kang Daniel and his supporters:
“Although it may seem like an obvious result, the two years it took until the first trial was an indescribable pain for the artist and fans.”
They also emphasized the ongoing nature of the legal battle, stating that they plan to file a civil lawsuit seeking 100 million KRW in damages. This civil action aims to prevent further defamation and protect future victims. ARA Entertainment stressed the importance of holding perpetrators accountable:
“This is the minimum defensive measure to prevent any more innocent victims and to prevent such incidents from recurring. We believe that we should impose strong civil and criminal liability for malicious defamation and profiteering through it. This is because even if all legal procedures are completed, it leaves scars that are not easily healed.”
Future Actions
Despite the recent court victory, the legal actions against Sojang are not over. Kang Daniel’s team remains committed to protecting his rights and addressing any future attempts of defamation.
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