HYBE Shares Further Updates On Legal Proceedings For Their Artists Against Malicious Activities

HYBE has given updates on the legal proceedings against those who perpetrate malicious actions against their artists.

On December 29, artists under HYBE including BTS, TXT, SEVENTEEN, fromis_9, Hwang Minhyun, Baekho, ENHYPEN, LE SSERAFIM, and NewJeans each posted a statement updating on their legal proceedings against malicious activities that violate the rights of the artists. The statements provide follow-up on the previous update given by HYBE earlier in June.

BTS

"Hello.
This is BIGHIT MUSIC.

Our company regularly initiates legal proceedings against perpetrators of malicious activities related to BTS, including defamation, personal attacks, sexual harassment, the spread of groundless information, and ill-intentioned criticism. We would like to provide an update on these activities.

During this quarter, we filed multiple criminal complaints with law enforcement agencies based on evidence related to acts infringing on the rights of the artists, including defamation, submitted by our fans as well as collected through our own monitoring.

The individual we filed criminal complaints against for violating the Act on Punishment of Crime of Stalking mentioned in our previous notice has been subjected to criminal penalties following the prosecution’s investigation. In consideration of the seriousness of behaviors that threaten the safety and privacy of the artists, we have submitted petitions urging more stringent penalties. The individual who repeatedly visited artists’ residence was reported to the police for allegations of violation of the Act on Punishment of Crime of Stalking and trespassing, and an investigation is underway, as reported in the media.

As for the individual who previously impersonated a BTS member and leaked unreleased music, we have obtained evidence of additional crimes of artist impersonation. Additional criminal charges have been filed against the impersonator, leading to arrest and indictment. The trial is pending, awaiting the court’s verdict.

Regarding the malicious rumors with evident malicious intent towards the artists, we have compiled numerous malicious postings that involve the dissemination of false information and defamation and included them in the complaint. We are applying a zero-tolerance policy as we take legal action in civil and criminal proceedings against malicious rumors that undermine our artists’ reputations.

After a lengthy police investigation, the identity of an individual who repeatedly posted false information and malicious defamatory comments on NatePann and Naver, totaling dozens of cases, has been ascertained. Although the suspect in question has proposed a settlement, we clearly made our stance to pursue legal accountability to the fullest extent without settling.

BIGHIT MUSIC regularly collects information on malicious postings regarding BTS, reports them to the authorities, and takes legal actions. We will continue taking legal action without interruption, even while all members are fulfilling their military service. We will continue to adhere to strict measures and our policy of no settlement and no leniency to hold suspects accountable.

We ask that you make continued use of our legal affairs hotline ([email protected]) to report any cases of abuse.

We are always grateful for the affection and dedication shown by the fans of BTS. BIGHIT MUSIC will continue to work to ensure that the rights of our artists are fully protected.

Thank you."

TXT

"Hello.
This is BIGHIT MUSIC.

Our company regularly initiates legal proceedings against perpetrators of malicious activities related to TOMORROW X TOGETHER, including defamation, personal attacks, sexual harassment, the spread of groundless information, and ill-intentioned criticism. We would like to provide an update on these activities.

Recently, we have noticed a sharp increase in malicious postings based on blatant falsehoods about the artists. In response to this situation, we have strengthened our monitoring and collected numerous postings as evidence.

As a result, the number of individuals subject to legal action has increased sixfold compared to the previous half-year. The complaints include cases of systematically repeated postings made to insult and defame artists, postings of sexual harassment, and ridicule and profanity based on false information.

We would like to inform you that we will continue to take strong measures against malicious postings that violate our artists’ rights. Our policy of no settlement and no leniency under any circumstances during the legal proceedings against such an invasion of artists’ rights remains in effect.

We regularly collect information on malicious postings regarding TOMORROW X TOGETHER, report them to the authorities, and take legal action. We ask that you make continued use of our legal affairs hotline ([email protected]) to report any cases of abuse.

We are always grateful for the affection and dedication shown by the fans of TOMORROW X TOGETHER.
BIGHIT MUSIC will continue to work to ensure that the rights of our artists are fully protected.

Thank you."

SEVENTEEN

"Hello.
This is PLEDIS Entertainment.

Our company regularly initiates legal proceedings against perpetrators of malicious activities related to SEVENTEEN, including defamation, personal attacks, sexual harassment, the spread of groundless information, and ill-intentioned criticism. We would like to provide an update on these activities.

Even in cases where postings have been anonymously created and subsequently deleted, we have collected evidence through our real-time monitoring system for malicious postings. In addition, we have filed several criminal complaints to law enforcement agencies based on evidence submitted by our fans.

Posts that spread false information or distort facts to defame and mock the artist, posts that cause sexual humiliation or aversion, and posts that leak the artist’s personal information causing harm, have been included in the complaints.

Furthermore, there are several cases among the past complaints where the identities have been confirmed by investigative authorities and additional legal procedures are underway. We are taking strict legal action to address malicious postings about the artists across all channels, including social media and online communities. Our policy of no settlement and no leniency under any circumstances during the legal proceedings against such an invasion of artists’ rights remains in effect.

Your interest and reports have been very helpful in taking legal action against such activities. We are always grateful for the affection and dedication shown by the fans of SEVENTEEN. We ask that you make continued use of our legal affairs hotline ([email protected]) to report any cases of abuse.

PLEDIS Entertainment will continue to work to ensure that the rights of our artists are fully protected.

Thank you."

fromis_9

"Hello.
This is PLEDIS Entertainment.

Our company regularly initiates legal proceedings against perpetrators of malicious activities related to fromis_9, including defamation, personal attacks, sexual harassment, the spread of groundless information, and ill-intentioned criticism. We would like to provide an update on these activities.

We are actively collecting evidence against malicious postings targeting our artists in real-time and filing complaints. We have obtained the user IDs of multiple individuals who have persistently and repeatedly posted sexually harassing content on certain websites. We would like to inform you that we have collected all sexually harassing posts uploaded under the same ID as evidence and included them in our formal complaint.

Among the past cases filed, a suspect who repeatedly wrote highly malicious postings has been referred to trial based on the court’s consideration of the seriousness of the case. The individual has been convicted, and a fine of three million won has been imposed, the maximum legal penalty.

In addition, individuals who anonymously wrote sexually harassing postings have been identified through police investigations. Following the prosecution’s investigation, multiple suspects were found guilty and received legal punishment. Our policy of no settlement and no leniency under any circumstances during the legal proceedings against such an invasion of artists’ rights remains in effect.

We regularly collect information on malicious postings regarding fromis_9, report them to the authorities, and take legal action. We ask that you make continued use of our legal affairs hotline ([email protected]) to report any cases of abuse.

We are always grateful for the affection and dedication shown by the fans of fromis_9.
PLEDIS will continue to work to ensure that the rights of our artists are fully protected.

Thank you."

Hwang Minhyun

"Hello.
This is PLEDIS Entertainment.

Our company regularly initiates legal proceedings against perpetrators of malicious activities related to Hwang Minhyun, including defamation, personal attacks, sexual harassment, the spread of groundless information, and ill-intentioned criticism. We would like to provide an update on these activities.

To protect the rights of our artists, we are collecting evidence through our own advanced system that monitors malicious postings in real-time, as well as through valuable reports from fans.

We are continuously monitoring individuals who post malicious content in certain communities, including postings that belittle and ridicule our artists, as well as those who maliciously attempt to create negative public opinion. As a result, we have secured evidence of postings insulting and disparaging our artists’ characters and have submitted numerous complaints to law enforcement agencies.

We would like to inform you that we will continue to take strong measures against malicious postings that violate our artists’ rights. Our policy of no settlement and no leniency under any circumstances during the legal proceedings against such an invasion of artists’ rights remains in effect.

We regularly collect information on malicious postings regarding Hwang Minhyun, report them to the authorities, and take legal action. We ask that you make continued use of our legal affairs hotline ([email protected]) to report any cases of abuse.

We are always grateful for the affection and dedication shown by the fans of Hwang Minhyun.
PLEDIS will continue to work to ensure that the rights of our artists are fully protected.

Thank you."

Baekho

"Hello.
This is PLEDIS Entertainment.

Our company regularly initiates legal proceedings against perpetrators of malicious activities related to Baekho, including defamation, personal attacks, sexual harassment, the spread of groundless information, and ill-intentioned criticism. We would like to provide an update on these activities.

To protect the rights of our artists, we are collecting evidence through our own advanced system that monitors malicious postings in real-time, as well as through valuable reports from fans.

We are diversifying our monitoring efforts to collect more types of evidence, including malicious postings that spread false information about artists and insult their characters, as well as sexually harass them. We utilize our internal system to collect real-time evidence, even in cases where malicious postings on online communities have been promptly deleted after being posted. As a result, we have comprehensively compiled sexually harassing postings and deleted postings from certain websites and filed complaints to law enforcement agencies.

We would like to inform you that we will continue to take strong measures against malicious postings that violate our artists’ rights. Our policy of no settlement and no leniency under any circumstances during the legal proceedings against such an invasion of artists’ rights remains in effect.

We regularly collect information on malicious postings regarding Baekho, report them to the authorities, and take legal action. We ask that you make continued use of our legal affairs hotline ([email protected]) to report any cases of abuse.

We are always grateful for the affection and dedication shown by the fans of Baekho.
PLEDIS will continue to work to ensure that the rights of our artists are fully protected.

Thank you."

ENHYPEN

"Hello.
This is BELIFT LAB.

Our company regularly initiates legal proceedings against perpetrators of malicious activities related to ENHYPEN, including defamation, personal attacks, sexual harassment, the spread of groundless information, and ill-intentioned criticism. We would like to provide an update on these activities.

We are actively collecting malicious postings that defame our artists’ characters and propagate malicious rumors online in real time. We are also monitoring and expanding the scope of evidence collection to include sexually harassing postings taking place on certain websites.

Based on evidence submitted by our fans as well as collected through our internal monitoring system, we have filed criminal complaints against authors of malicious postings for offenses such as Defamation and violation of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment, etc. of Sexual Crimes (Obscene Acts by Using Means of Communication).

Furthermore, law enforcement agencies have secured the identities of multiple suspects who wrote malicious postings, including the author of a defamatory post with regards to an artist communication video, among the past cases filed. Additional procedures are currently in progress. Our policy of no settlement and no leniency under any circumstances during the legal proceedings against such an invasion of artists’ rights remains in effect.

We regularly collect information on malicious postings regarding ENHYPEN, report them to the authorities, and take legal action. We ask that you make continued use of our legal affairs hotline ([email protected]) to report any cases of abuse.

We are always grateful for the affection and dedication shown by the fans of ENHYPEN.
BELIFT LAB will continue to work to ensure that the rights of our artists are fully protected.

Thank you."

LE SSERAFIM

"Hello.
This is SOURCE MUSIC.

Our company regularly initiates legal proceedings against perpetrators of malicious activities related to LE SSERAFIM, including defamation, personal attacks, sexual harassment, the spread of groundless information, and ill-intentioned criticism. We would like to provide an update on these activities.

Firstly, regarding the recent malicious rumors about member KIM CHAEWON, we have filed criminal complaints based on compiled multiple postings, including the initial posting, that disseminated false information and defamed the artist’s character. We have also included in the complaints instances where the individual used the same username immediately after posting malicious rumors to mock the public for falling for the said postings. Furthermore, we would like to note that we have included in the complaints the act of disseminating “fake news” (jjirashi) and generating rumors in a group chat involving multiple participants.

In addition, we also collected and filed complaints against individuals who maliciously spread baseless and absurd rumors in certain communities, claiming that they had heard such rumors from acquaintances, as well as postings that contained sexually harassing content or fabricated explicit photos. We will apply a zero-tolerance principle as we take legal action in civil and criminal proceedings against malicious rumors that undermine our artists’ reputations.

As a result of previous complaints, some suspects were found guilty of defamation after long police investigations and received legal punishment. In addition, there are numerous cases where individuals have been identified and referred to local prosecutors’ offices and are currently undergoing investigation and legal proceedings.

Considering the fact that some members are legal minors, we are taking strict measures to address malicious postings that violate our artists’ rights across all available channels, including social media platforms and online communities. Our policy of no settlement and no leniency under any circumstances during the legal proceedings against such an invasion of artists’ rights remains in effect.

We regularly collect information on malicious postings regarding LE SSERAFIM, report them to the authorities, and take legal action. We ask that you make continued use of our legal affairs hotline ([email protected]) to report any cases of abuse.

We are always grateful for the affection and dedication shown by the fans of LE SSERAFIM.
We will continue to work to ensure that the rights of our artists are fully protected.

Thank you."

NewJeans

"Hello.
This is ADOR.

Our company regularly initiates legal proceedings against perpetrators of malicious activities related to NewJeans, including defamation, personal attacks, sexual harassment, the spread of groundless information, and ill-intentioned criticism. We would like to provide an update on these activities.

Even in cases where postings have been anonymously created and subsequently deleted, we have collected evidence through our real-time monitoring system for malicious postings. In addition, we have filed several criminal complaints to law enforcement agencies based on evidence submitted by our fans.

The criminal complaints address individuals who have ridiculed and insulted the nationality of the artists, posted abhorrent content that triggers sexual shame or disgust, disseminated fabricated explicit photos, and written comments on live channels that caused harm to the artists.

A suspect in the past cases filed identified by law enforcement agencies has proposed a settlement. However, we clearly made our stance to pursue legal accountability to the fullest extent without settling.

Considering the fact that some members are legal minors, we are taking strict measures to address malicious postings that violate our artists’ rights across all available channels, including social media platforms and online communities. Our policy of no settlement and no leniency under any circumstances during the legal proceedings against such an invasion of artists’ rights remains in effect.

Your interest and reports have been very helpful in taking legal action against such activities. We are always grateful for the affection and dedication shown by the fans of NewJeans. We ask that you make use of our legal affairs hotline ([email protected]) to report any cases of abuse.

ADOR will continue to work to ensure that the rights of our artists are fully protected.

Thank you."

 

cr: Soompi