The Seoul Central District Court has ruled that the operator of the YouTube channel Sojang must pay a total of 170 million won (about $115, 000) in damages to SM Entertainment and its associated artists. This decision comes as a result of the channel’s production and distribution of defamatory videos containing false claims.
On April 22, 2026, the court found that the actions of the channel operator constituted a breach of the personality rights of several SM Entertainment artists. Notably, groups such as aespa, EXO, and Red Velvet were targeted through the creation of misleading and insulting content.
Financial Repercussions for Defamation
The court’s ruling mandated that 130 million won (approximately $88, 000) be allocated directly to the artists impacted by these defamatory statements, as reported by Allkpop. Additionally, the court prescribed a further 40 million won (around $27, 000) to SM Entertainment itself. This decision highlighted the significant harm that the defamatory content inflicted on the company’s operational integrity, further deteriorating the public image of its artists and diminishing their brand value, which are critical elements for an entertainment entity.
The Legal Actions Taken
SM Entertainment initiated a criminal complaint against the Sojang channel operator in April 2024, citing defamation and insults that fell under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, according to Soompi.
In January 2025, the Incheon District Court imposed a sentence on the operator, a woman surnamed Park, which included two years of imprisonment, suspended for three years, alongside the forfeiture of 211 million won and 120 hours of mandated community service. Subsequently, the Supreme Court upheld this decision in January 2026.
Extent of the Damage
Between October 2021 and June 2023, the Sojang channel operator released a total of 23 defamatory videos targeting various celebrities and influencers. These actions led prosecutors to ascertain that the operator profited approximately 250 million won from the dissemination of this harmful content.
In addition to the legal challenges posed by SM Entertainment, the operator has encountered similar lawsuits from other prominent figures within the entertainment industry, including IVE’s Jang Won-young and solo artist Kang Daniel, according to insights from Korea JoongAng Daily.
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