BTS and IVE’s Jang Wonyoung defamation case: YouTuber Sojang ordered 2-year prison sentence and 200 million KRW fine

On January 14, YouTuber Sojang modified into sentenced to 2 years in detention heart and three years of probation for defaming South Korean celebrities, including IVE’s Wonyoung and BTS. She modified into known for making unverified claims relating to the artists in an strive to malign their reputations. The Incheon District Court docket also ordered the 30-year-extinct to pay a fine of approximately 200 million KRW (about 137,000 USD) and to full 120 hours of community service.

Park Sojang (monotonously is named Sojang) continuously uploaded defamatory videos about K-pop idols esteem IVE’s Jang Wonyoung, BTS’s Jungkook and V, soloist Kang Daniel, and others from October 2021 to June 2023. These videos included heavily edited impart designed to spread faulty news in regards to the celebrities to plot views and subscribers. The videos lined issues equivalent to prostitution, plastic surgical treatment, or celebrities’ enjoy lives. Some even included physique-shaming and other offensive remarks.

In retaliation to her actions, Sojang confronted multiple civil and prison costs from the affected artists final year. Jang Wonyoung filed a 1 billion KRW lawsuit, and the court ordered her to pay the paunchy quantity in January. Sojang appealed to the court for reduction from the fine. BTS participants V and Jungkook filed a lawsuit anxious 90 million KRW for wound to their reputations. Kang Daniel won 30 million KRW in damages within the most foremost trial, which Sojang has also appealed. SM Leisure filed costs relating to the defamation of EXO’s Suho and aespa, as reported by Korean media.

The defamatory videos uploaded by the YouTuber led to foremost monetary positive aspects for her. She reportedly earned 250 million KRW (approximately 171,000 USD) in income by ad revenue and paid memberships from such impart. Maintaining Sojang’s case as an illustration, the presiding resolve, Kim Saet Byeol, emphasised the severity of defamation crimes. He acknowledged, “Defamation causes irreparable wound to victims and wants to be dealt with severely.”