LE SSERAFIM taking legal actions!
The group LE SSERAFIM reported a follow-up on the malicious posting legal action.
On the 7th, LE SSERAFIM’s agency Source Music announced ‘Guidance on the Legal Response Situation related to Artist Rights Infringement’ on its official channel.
Source Music said, “We decided that the indiscriminate malicious postings against LE SSERAFIM had reached a very serious level, so we would strengthen legal action to protect the rights and interests of artists. In response, we would like to inform our fans of the situation and subsequent progress of the implementation of strong legal measures in the first half of 24 years earlier.”
Earlier, the agency announced in late April that it would strengthen legal action against malicious postings. In this regard, Source Music said, “We filed a complaint with the investigative agency on charges of insults, defamation under the Information and Communication Network Act, and obscene use of communication media under the Sexual Violence Punishment Act.” The legal action included malicious slander, false information, personal attacks, insults, ridicule, and low-level malicious comments.
Source Music, which also reported on the results of some cases in which punishment was confirmed among existing ongoing complaints, said, “The investigation into suspects who wrote malicious posts or comments in the community has been conducted for a long time.”
Lastly, the agency of LE SSERAFIM said, “We are continuously making efforts to eradicate illegal acts against artists, even if it takes some time. We will continue to respond strongly to complaints that infringe on the rights and interests of artists, no matter what, without leniency.”
Full Text of Source Music’s statement
Hello. This is SOURCE MUSIC.
Firstly, we apologize for any concern that some of the recent events may have caused our fans who love and support LE SSERAFIM. We have announced plans to intensify legal actions as indiscriminate and malicious postings targeting LE SSERAFIM have become excessive. Therefore, we moved up our 2024 semi-annual notice to keep our fans informed about the legal proceedings and subsequent actions. We apologize for the delay in sharing the status of these proceedings, which was due to the preparation of numerous legal complaints and the collection of evidence.
Our company undertakes comprehensive evidence collection related to the artist for malicious postings across various platforms, including domestic and overseas social media accounts and online communities. We have also obtained evidence through reports from fans and by employing all available professional methods, including assistance from domestic and foreign law firms. As a result, we have compiled an extensive array of posts and comments, based on which we have filed a formal complaint with the investigative authorities. The charges include contempt, defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act, and digital sex crimes as stipulated by Article 13 (Obscene Acts by Using Means of Communication) under the Act on Special Cases concerning the Punishment, stc. of Sexual Crimes.
We have continued to gather evidence subsequent to these filings. The legal action encompasses all forms of malicious criticism, dissemination of false information, personal attacks, derogatory remarks, mockery, and vulgar comments. The posts and comments subject to legal action include those uploaded on portal sites and online communities such as Naver, Nate Pann, theqoo, Dcinside, instiz, and ilbe, as well as social media platforms. Additionally, an official complaint has been filed with investigative authorities against malicious posts and comments on overseas platforms and the managers of those channels. We wish to take this time to provide an update on the legal actions we had taken previously.
An extensive investigation was conducted into those who authored malicious posts and comments on online communities. The investigation concluded with guilty verdicts, and the offenders were punished under criminal law, facing fines up to two million KRW. It takes at least several months for a complaint to be processed and resolved—sometimes over a year.
SOURCE MUSIC is committed to uprooting such criminal actions perpetrated against our artists, regardless of how long it takes. We will continue to offer no leniency or settlements, ensuring that the offenders are appropriately punished without exception, as has always been our practice. Thank you for your unwavering love and support for LE SSERAFIM.
Please send any reports of cases of violation to SOURCE MUSIC’s legal hotline at protect@sourcemusic.com. SOURCE MUSIC will continue to work to ensure that the rights of our artists are fully protected. Thank you.
Previous article about agencies taking legal actions, SM artists’ and Kwangya 119, CLICK HERE.
