From BTS' V and Jungkook to EXO's Suho, aespa: K-pop stars who sued controversial YouTuber Sojang for defamation
These idols have taken legal action against her for defamation and slander, seeking justice for the harm she has caused.
Updated : September 16, 2024 03:56 PM ISTThese idols have taken legal action against her for defamation and slander, seeking justice for the harm she has caused.
Cases against YouTuber Sojang
The highly controversial YouTuber from South Korea - Sojang - frequently makes headlines for her notorious habit of spreading baseless rumours and false claims about celebrities, damaging their reputations with each video.
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Despite profiting from YouTube ad revenue, her actions have prompted some of the biggest names in K-pop to fight back. These idols have taken legal action against her for defamation and slander, seeking justice for the harm she has caused. Below is a list of the K-pop idols who have sued Sojang.
Kang Daniel:
In July 2022, Kang Daniel filed a criminal case against Sojang for sharing false information. On September 11, 2024, his agency, ARA, stated that the idol had won the first trial against Sojang. The label will now file a civil case seeking 100 million KRW in damages.
IVE's Jang Wonyoung:
Since November 2022, Jang Wonyoung of IVE has been pursuing civil and criminal actions against Sojang for repeatedly spreading false information and damaging rumours, as well as reportedly employing people to write defamatory comments about her. Sojang was ordered to pay 100 million KRW as compensation in the civil lawsuit.
BTS' V and Jungkook:
On August 16, it was reported that BTS' two youngest members, Jungkook and V, had launched a lawsuit against Sojang, claiming damages of around 90 million KRW. The first trial was held on August 23, five months after the complaint was filed, and Sojang denied the claims, claiming that her videos were purely personal opinions and not defamatory.
EXO's Suho:
On September 4, SM Entertainment confirmed to the media that EXO's leader Suho had sued Sojang in April for breaking the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection (defamation). The accused agreed to make videos but denied slander and interference with business.
aespa:
Karina, Ningning, Winter, and Giselle, all four members of aespa, filed a lawsuit against Sojang in April on defamation allegations, according to SM Entertainment. The first trial was held on September 2 at the Incheon District Court.
Other artists:
"Infamous YouTuber Sojang (35 years old) was spotted disguising herself with a wig and glasses to attend another trial for defamation against Kang Daniel.
— Pop Base (@PopBase) May 27, 2024
She previously lost a ₩100 million defamation lawsuit to IVE's Wonyoung. pic.twitter.com/gz2wbTD9aF
Sojang has faced multiple legal actions from several South Korean entertainment agencies as well. In 2021, Big Hit Music, representing BTS, filed a defamation lawsuit against her, and in 2022, KQ Entertainment, the agency for ATEEZ, followed with a similar suit. However, the lawsuits faced challenges due to difficulties in identifying her through YouTube.
The YouTuber, known only by her surname Park, was also reportedly taken to court by EXO's Xiumin when she operated under the username "Gasahara" on the DC Inside Gallery, a popular Korean forum. Although details of the case remain unclear, a post by Gasahara titled "My Record: Sued By EXO's Xiumin" reveals that she was found not guilty.
In the post, she shared a photo of a legal document alongside a receipt paper with "GASAHARA" written on it, with the disturbing comment: "Nope. Not guilty. I just said I wanted to r*pe him." This further highlights the extent of her harmful actions and the backlash she continues to face.