Ive’s Wonyoung wins suit against YouTuber over false claims
By Carl Samson
January 18, 2024
Ive member Wonyoung has reportedly emerged victorious in a civil lawsuit against a YouTube channel she and her label have accused of spreading false rumors.
About the suit: Wonyoung, whose full name is Jang Wonyoung, and Ive’s agency, Starship Entertainment, reportedly filed separate civil suits last October against the operator of the now-defunct YouTube channel Sojang, an anonymous individual only identified as Park. Starship, for its part, has been filing both criminal and legal cases against Park since November 2022, some of which reached overseas.
Park is accused of spreading false rumors about Wonyoung, such as a love affair she purportedly had with a male celebrity. Wonyoung reportedly sought damages for what equated to personal injury.
What the court decided: The Seoul Central District Court reportedly ruled in favor of Wonyoung after Park failed to respond to the lawsuit, leading to a deemed confession. The court ordered Park to pay 100 million won (approximately $74,620) in damages.
What her label is saying: The court has yet to decide on Starship Entertainment’s separate suit, with a hearing set later this month. On Wednesday, the K-pop label released an update about the legal proceedings.
“Through the continuous circulation of false information, ‘Sojang’ committed grave defamation, and they not only hindered the agency’s business but also caused serious pain to artists and fans,” Starship Entertainment said. “We are constantly operating a monitoring system to protect the rights of our artists including their reputation, privacy, and their human rights, and we plan to take all possible legal actions without leniency for the current and future cases of defamation or other additional damages caused to the artists.”
What’s next: Amid the legal proceedings, Wonyoung and the rest of Ive’s members are expected to continue their promotional activities. The group is slated to release their first English single, “All Night” featuring Saweetie, today.
Share this Article
Share this Article
