Court sentences netizen to prison for spreading fake videos of IVE's Jang Won-young

A court has sentenced a netizen to prison for repeatedly producing and spreading maliciously fabricated videos targeting Jang Won-young, a member of the girl group IVE.

Starship Entertainment said Wednesday that a court had recently sentenced the defendant to prison. The case involved charges of distributing fabricated videos targeting the agency's artist, and Starship pursued it through its legal representative, Kim & Chang.

"We responded strictly throughout the investigation and trial process, and we will continue to hold offenders legally accountable to the end under a zero-tolerance policy against serious violations of our artists' rights," the agency said.

Starship has been collecting evidence against some YouTube channels and "cyber wreckers" that have repeatedly created malicious content targeting Jang. The agency has also gathered evidence against individuals who posted malicious content across various online communities. Following this legal victory, the agency said it plans to move quickly on further action.

"This round of legal action covers the repeated posting and spreading of false claims about Jang Won-young, including distorting parts of filmed footage or adding fabricated details to spread false claims about the artist's character and attitude, as well as sustained malicious slander and personal attacks," the agency said.

"Regardless of whether accounts are anonymous, use pseudonyms, or operate on overseas platforms, we will pursue all necessary legal procedures across domestic and international platforms to identify the authors and distributors and hold them accountable to the end," it added.

Earlier, Starship and Jang won both civil and criminal lawsuits against the operator of the cyber wrecker channel "Taldeok Suyongso," identified as A. Between October 2021 and June 2023, A produced and distributed videos spreading false rumors about K-pop artists including Jang, Exo, BTS members V and Jungkook, and Kang Daniel. The videos earned A about 250 million won ($186,000) in illicit profits.