The Rise and Fall of a ‘Cyber Wrecker’ Who Targeted Jang Won-young and Other K-pop Stars

Jang Won-young, a member of K-pop girl group IVE, has won a legal victory against a YouTuber surnamed Park who spread false and malicious rumors about her online.

The Seoul Central District Court ordered the YouTuber, identified only by her surname Park, to pay 10 million won ($8,400) in compensation to Jang for defamation and emotional distress. The court also issued an injunction to prohibit Park from uploading any more videos about Jang or IVE.

Park, who ran a YouTube channel with over 300,000 subscribers, had posted several videos accusing Jang of being rude, arrogant, and unprofessional. She also claimed that Jang had undergone plastic surgery, bullied other trainees, and received preferential treatment from her agency, Starship Entertainment.

None of these allegations were true, and Jang’s lawyer presented evidence to refute them in court. Jang also testified that she suffered from anxiety, depression, and insomnia due to Park’s videos, which damaged her reputation and career.

On January 18, JTBC’s ‘Crime Chief’ revealed information showing that park allegedly hired part-time workers to write malicious comments on YouTube videos.

According to ‘Crime Chief,’ park uploaded a job position for part-timers to leave detailed malicious comments criticizing Jang Won Young, such as her facial expressions on YouTube videos. The job listing claimed park would pay individuals 50 KRW (0.04 USD) per short comment and 100 KRW (0.08 USD) for every long comment.

Park, who did not appear in court, appealed the ruling, claiming that she had the right to freedom of expression and that her videos were based on her personal opinions and observations.

However, the court dismissed her appeal, saying that Park had violated Jang’s rights and dignity by spreading false information without verifying the facts. The court also said that Park’s videos were not protected by freedom of expression, as they were intended to harm Jang and attract viewers for profit.

Park’s case is one of the first successful lawsuits against a “cyber wrecker,” a term coined in South Korea to describe YouTube channels that post negative and sensationalized news about celebrities, often without any factual basis. These channels have been criticized for exploiting the popularity and vulnerability of stars, especially young idols, for their own gain.

Many celebrities, such as V of BTS, have threatened to take legal action against “cyber wreckers,” but the process has been difficult and costly, as most of them hide their identities and operate from overseas. Starship Entertainment had to obtain a court order from the US to get Park’s personal information from Google and YouTube, which took several months.

Jang’s victory is expected to set a precedent for other celebrities who are facing similar problems with “cyber wreckers.” It also sends a strong message to the public that online defamation is not a trivial matter, but a serious crime that can ruin lives and careers.

Jang, who debuted as a member of IVE in December 2022, is one of the most popular and promising idols in the K-pop scene. She rose to fame as the center of the project group IZ*ONE, which was formed through the survival show Produce 48 in 2018. She is known for her stunning visuals, powerful vocals, and charismatic performances.

IVE, which consists of six members, including Jang, has been receiving positive reviews for their debut single album “Eleven.” The group is set to make a comeback with their second album in March 2024.