A woman in her 40s has once again been penalised for defaming South Korean singer and actress IU. The Seoul Central District Court ordered the woman, referred to as Kim, to pay a fine of 3 million KRW (approximately USD 2,200) after finding her guilty of slander. This marks her second conviction for targeting the K-pop star with malicious online comments.
The verdict was reported by The Korea Herald on June 5. The court’s decision took into account Kim’s prior offence against IU, for which she had been fined the same amount in December 2023. Her previous comments in April 2022 included derogatory remarks about IU’s singing and fashion sense. Though Kim claimed at the time that the comments reflected her personal taste and limitations due to a mental health issue, the court found them defamatory.
In the latest hearing, Kim denied having posted the offensive content. She also argued that her comments did not name IU directly, were vague, and therefore did not damage the singer’s social standing. However, the court rejected her defence in its entirety.
The judge ruled, “She has shown no remorse, continues to deny the offense, and has not received forgiveness from the victim.” It was also revealed that Kim had two prior convictions for similar offences. The court, however, considered that the latest offence occurred before she was indicted for the December 2023 defamation case and that she had no criminal history beyond fines, which influenced the final sentencing.
IU’s Team Not Backing Down
IU’s agency, Edam Entertainment, has made it clear that they are not taking these attacks lightly. In a public statement, they confirmed that IU has not forgiven Kim, and thus, the legal proceedings were pursued without a settlement.
Edam has consistently been proactive in tackling online defamation. By November last year, the agency had already initiated criminal action against 180 individuals accused of making malicious comments about IU.
With repeated offenders continuing to target public figures online, this case underscores the growing seriousness with which South Korean courts are treating digital harassment, particularly against high-profile celebrities like IU.
Doonited Affiliated: Syndicate News Hunt
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