Youtuber who defamed K-pop idols is sentenced to prison

The YouTuber Sojangalso known by her real surname parkwas sentenced to prison for defaming several celebrities, including members of IVE, BTS and singer Kang Daniel. The Incheon District Court, in South Korea, issued the sentence this Wednesday, 15th, imposing a sentence of two years in prison on the influencer, with three years of probation. Additionally, the digital content creator was fined 210 million won and ordered to perform 120 hours of community service.

park She became known in the K-pop world for her YouTube channel, where she spread rumors about celebrities. Between October 2021 and June 2023, she published 23 videos involving seven influencers and artists, including Wonyoung from IVE, Jungkook and V by BTS. According to the prosecution, the YouTuber earned an income of 250 million won from these videos over a two-year period.

During the trial, the judge Kim Sat Byeol highlighted the seriousness of the defamation accusations, emphasizing that the YouTuber repeatedly slandered public figures and benefited financially from this. “The defendant uploaded provocative content to her channel, making considerable profits. Her guilt is serious,” said the judge.

However, the court also considered the fact that park demonstrated belated regret and was reflecting on his actions, including the 100 million won compensation paid to Starship Entertainment and Wonyoungas well as legal costs incurred during the process.

It is worth remembering that legal proceedings against park began to grow only after the IVE member’s legal representatives managed to locate her through an extensive legal procedure. This case reflects the growing surveillance of digital influencers and the impact of defamation on the lives of public figures, in addition to highlighting the digital responsibility of those who exercise power of influence on social networks.

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