K-pop star and actress IU is taking a stand against online harassment, announcing that she is pursuing criminal charges against individuals who have repeatedly posted malicious comments about her on social media.
On Monday, IU’s agency, EDAM Entertainment, in collaboration with law firm Shinwon, confirmed they have filed complaints against more than 180 defendants, with additional cases still under investigation.
EDAM Entertainment outlined the severe nature of the charges, stating, “We have pursued legal action against cases that meet criminal thresholds, including threats, defamation, malicious spreading of false information, baseless plagiarism accusations, death threats, privacy violations, sexual harassment, the distribution of explicit content, the creation and distribution of illegal deepfake videos, and other harmful online activity.”
Among those targeted in the ongoing legal actions are even some of IU’s former middle school classmates.
So far, the legal efforts have led to six cases resulting in fines (summary punishment), three cases with deferred prosecution contingent on completing educational programs, and one case involving probation with conditions for deferred prosecution.
One individual, accused of cyberbullying IU with false claims, sexual harassment, and death threats, is facing severe charges, with prosecutors seeking a fine of 3 million won (approximately $2,130).
The defendants are contesting the charges and awaiting the formal trial outcome. Some individuals responsible for spreading false plagiarism allegations in April and May 2023, which severely damaged IU’s reputation, have also been identified, and their personal information has been obtained.
The agency further disclosed, “We have identified the personal details of several individuals who used overseas servers to carry out their illegal activities, as well as some suspects believed to be residing outside of Korea.” Shockingly, one of the individuals under investigation is reportedly IU’s former classmate, which has left her and her agency deeply unsettled.
The agency also emphasized that despite the ongoing legal battles, IU continues to be subjected to persistent online harassment and is committed to addressing the situation. “We have sought cooperation from relevant authorities to track down online trolls who are using overseas IP addresses or who may be residing abroad,” they added. “The investigation into these individuals is ongoing.”
Additionally, a key figure who spread the false rumor that IU was a spy has been identified, and the case has been referred to prosecutors, where it is now awaiting further legal action.
Finally, the agency made it clear that it would not back down, stating, “Neither the agency nor IU will make any settlements or show leniency toward online trolls.” They concluded with a firm warning: “We will continue to take strong legal action against those who post malicious content.”
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