On the morning of September 4, the Seoul Central District Court held the first appeal hearing in the damages lawsuit filed by IVE’s Jang Wonyoung against Sojang. During the hearing, Sojang’s side claimed, “We are asserting our innocence in the criminal case, so we believe we need to wait for the verdict.“
Sojang had repeatedly spread false rumors about Jang Wonyoung, including discord and dating rumors, as well as distributing numerous videos criticizing her appearance and character. In response, Jang Wonyoung filed a lawsuit against Sojang last year, seeking 100 million won in damages, and the court ruled in her favor. However, in February, Sojang appealed, arguing, “It is not defamation, and even if it is considered defamation, the compensation amount is excessive.“
The court stated “Even if criminal responsibility is not established, civil responsibility cannot be avoided” and scheduled the next hearing for November 27.
Sojang is currently facing trial for uploading 23 videos defaming Jang Wonyoung and other celebrities between October 2021 and June last year, earning hundreds of millions of won in profits. On September 3, the Incheon District Prosecutor’s Office additionally indicted Sojang for defamation and insult charges involving other artists besides Jang Wonyoung.
During this process, Jang Wonyoung and her agency, Starship Entertainment, successfully obtained significant information regarding Sojang’s identity through the U.S. federal court’s discovery system, leading to ongoing legal actions against Sojang.
It has also been revealed that BTS members V and Jungkook, as well as Kang Daniel, have filed lawsuits against Sojang. SM Entertainment (SM) has also taken legal action, albeit later than others. EXO’s Suho and aespa filed complaints against Sojang in April. SM confirmed, “We filed the complaints in April, and the first trial was held on September 2.”
Source: Naver