Starship Entertainment, the agency of IVE’s Jang Wonyoung, has released a statement following the Supreme Court’s confirmation of the original court ruling in the lawsuit filed against A, the operator of the YouTube channel Sojang.
On the 29th, the Supreme Court’s Second Division upheld the first-instance ruling sentencing A to two years in prison with a three-year probation for defamation and insult under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection. The order to pay a fine of ₩210 million KRW (about $147,000 USD) and complete 120 hours of community service was also maintained.
A was previously indicted for defamation after posting 23 videos between October 2021 and June 2023 on their YouTube channel Sojang, which defamed seven celebrities and influencers.
Regarding the ruling, Starship Entertainment stated on the 30th, “Our company has been pursuing civil and criminal legal action against the operator of the YouTube channel ‘Sojang’ for disseminating false information, malicious defamation, and damaging the reputation of our artists. On January 29, 2026, the Supreme Court confirmed the original verdict in this case.”
The agency further explained, “The original court ruled that even if unverified content is presented in the form of speculation or suspicion, if the overall context leads to it being perceived as fact, it counts as spreading false information. It also affirmed that celebrities are entitled to full protection of their honor and personal rights. The Supreme Court found no legal error in these findings and therefore confirmed the verdict as is.”
Starship Entertainment emphasized, “Protecting our artists’ rights is our top priority. We will continue to take strong legal action without leniency or settlement against any spreading of false information, defamation, violation of personal rights, or other illegal acts targeting our artists in the future.”
The statement also addressed those who exploit anonymity to spread fake news and produce video and short-form content inciting cyberbullying: “We will strictly enforce all possible legal measures under relevant laws, including criminal complaints, against such acts. We will also continue rigorous monitoring and legal responses to prevent recurrence of similar harm.”
Finally, the agency expressed sincere gratitude, “We deeply appreciate everyone who supported the protection of our artists’ rights through material submissions and unwavering encouragement throughout this process. We thank all fans who cherish and support our artists, and we will continue striving to cultivate a healthy online culture.”