SM says it is taking strict legal action against online defamation, stalking, and threats targeting NCT’s Jisung, with more cases pending.

SM Entertainment (hereinafter, SM) is taking firm legal action against defamation and acts of damaging the reputation of its artists. Today (the 19th), SM said, “We will inform you of the status of our legal response to acts that infringe on the rights of Jisung of NCT, an artist under our company,” and disclosed in detail the progress of an ongoing criminal complaint case. According to SM, as a result of filing a complaint against a person who had continuously posted posts and videos defaming or insulting Jisung on online platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube, the court of first instance recently recognized the defendant’s offenses as violations of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc. (defamation) and insult, and sentenced the person to a fine of 5 million won (about 600,000 yen). The court cited the fact that the defendant had repeatedly committed the offenses over a long period from 2022 as the main basis for its guilty finding. The case is now awaiting a ruling in the appellate trial due to the defendant’s appeal. In parallel, additional measures are being strictly taken against perpetrators whose actions went too far. SM said, “We have filed complaints against those who caused the artist fear and anxiety on suspicion of violating the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc., the Act on Punishment of Stalking Crimes, and the Act on Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes.” Furthermore, it has recently filed additional complaints against a malicious commenter who created and spread as many as 462 malicious posts targeting Jisung online, on suspicion of violating the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc., insult, threats, and more, and police investigations are currently underway. SM reiterated its zero-tolerance principle, with no settlement or lenient treatment, saying, “We are thoroughly collecting evidence of the spread of false information, insults, and personal attacks occurring on various platforms such as X, YouTube, and SpinSpin,” and warned, “We will thoroughly track down and file additional complaints against those who repeat harmful acts even after legal action or judgments have been handed down.” It continued, “Until the harmful acts are completely stopped, we will mobilize all legal means, including criminal punishment, to hold them accountable,” and emphasized, “We promise to continue strong legal responses in order to protect the rights and interests of our artists in the future.” ・NCT DREAM to release their 6th full album “DREAM AFTER DREAM” on November 9 ・NCT DREAM and Seunghan confirmed to appear at the “TV Asahi Dream Festival” to be held in November! Headliners also announced [Full text of SM Entertainment’s comment] Hello, this is SM Entertainment. We will inform you of the status of our legal response to acts that infringe on the rights of Jisung of NCT, an artist under our company. In relation to the matter of continuously posting posts and videos on X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and other sites that defamed or insulted the artist, the court of first instance recently recognized the defendant’s offenses, which had continued since 2022, as violations of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc. (defamation) and the crime of insult, and sentenced the defendant to a fine of 5 million won. A date for the ruling in the appellate case appealed by the defendant is currently scheduled, and we will inform you again of future progress. In addition, we have filed complaints against those who caused the artist fear and anxiety on suspicion of violating the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc., the Act on Punishment of Stalking Crimes, and the Act on Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes. Recently, we also filed complaints against a malicious commenter who created and spread as many as 462 malicious posts targeting Jisung online, on suspicion of violating the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc., insult, threats, and more, and police investigations are currently underway. We are thoroughly collecting evidence of the spread of false information, insults, and personal attacks occurring on various platforms such as X, YouTube, and SpinSpin, and we will respond in accordance with a zero-tolerance principle, with no settlement or lenient treatment. In particular, for those who repeat harmful acts even after legal action or judgments have been handed down, we will thoroughly track them down to the end and file additional complaints. Until the harmful acts are completely stopped, we will mobilize all legal means, including criminal punishment, to hold them accountable. Until now, in order not to affect the investigation and trial, we were unable to provide details of the progress, but we would like to express our gratitude to the fans who have trusted our response and waited for a long time. We promise to continue strong legal responses in order to protect the rights and interests of our artists in the future. We ask for the continued interest and cooperation of our fans. Thank you. [Full text of SM Entertainment’s comment] Hello, this is SM Entertainment. We will inform you of the status of our legal response to acts that infringe on the rights of Jisung of NCT, an artist under our company. In relation to the matter of continuously posting posts and videos on X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and other sites that defamed or insulted the artist, the court of first instance recently recognized the defendant’s offenses, which had continued since 2022, as violations of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc. (defamation) and the crime of insult, and sentenced the defendant to a fine of 5 million won. A date for the ruling in the appellate case appealed by the defendant is currently scheduled, and we will inform you again of future progress. In addition, we have filed complaints against those who caused the artist fear and anxiety on suspicion of violating the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc., the Act on Punishment of Stalking Crimes, and the Act on Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes. Recently, we also filed complaints against a malicious commenter who created and spread as many as 462 malicious posts targeting Jisung online, on suspicion of violating the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc., insult, threats, and more, and police investigations are currently underway. We are thoroughly collecting evidence of the spread of false information, insults, and personal attacks occurring on various platforms such as X, YouTube, and SpinSpin, and we will respond in accordance with a zero-tolerance principle, with no settlement or lenient treatment. In particular, for those who repeat harmful acts even after legal action or judgments have been handed down, we will thoroughly track them down to the end and file additional complaints. Until the harmful acts are completely stopped, we will mobilize all legal means, including criminal punishment, to hold them accountable. Until now, in order not to affect the investigation and trial, we were unable to provide details of the progress, but we would like to express our gratitude to the fans who have trusted our response and waited for a long time. We promise to continue strong legal responses in order to protect the rights and interests of our artists in the future. We ask for the continued interest and cooperation of our fans. Thank you.