Court orders YouTuber to pay damages for defamatory videos targeting K-pop artists

▲ Corporate logo of SM Entertainment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)(Yonhap)

SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean court has ordered the operator of a YouTube channel to pay 170 million won (US$115,000) in damages for posting defamatory content about K-pop artists, their agency said Wednesday.

According to SM Entertainment, the Seoul Central District Court ruled on April 22 that the operator of the YouTube channel "Taldeok Camp" violated the personal rights of artists from groups such as aespa, EXO and Red Velvet by producing and uploading videos containing insulting and abusive remarks.

The court ordered the defendant to pay a total of 130 million won in damages to the artists.

It also ruled that the artists’ image and public reputation constitute key assets of the agency, adding that the defendant’s actions caused substantial disruption to the company’s business operations. The court ordered an additional 40 million won in compensation to SM Entertainment.

SM filed a complaint against the channel operator in April 2024 on charges including defamation and insult under the information and communications network law.

In January last year, the operator was sentenced by the Incheon District Court to two years in prison, suspended for three years, along with a forfeiture of 211.42 million won. The ruling was later finalized after appeals were exhausted.

SM said it will continue to take strong legal action against illegal acts targeting its artists, including personal attacks, defamatory remarks and the spread of false information.

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