SM Entertainment has won a civil lawsuit filed against the operator of the YouTube channel 'Taldeok Camp' (literal translation) for defaming its artists. The court ordered the operator to pay a total of 170 million won in damages.
According to legal sources, on the 22nd, the 14th Civil Division of the Seoul District Court ruled that the operator of the 'Taldeok Camp' channel infringed upon the personal rights of artists including aespa, EXO, and Red Velvet by producing and posting videos containing personal attacks. Consequently, the court ordered the operator to pay a total of 130 million won to the respective artists.
Furthermore, the court determined that the videos damaged the artists' images and reputations, thereby causing harm to the agency's business, and additionally ordered 40 million won in damages to be paid to SM Entertainment. As a result, the total compensation was set at 170 million won.
The court stated, "The videos produced and posted by the defendant directly influenced public perception of the plaintiff artists, leading to a decline in image and brand value, which also dealt a blow to the plaintiff company's core assets." It further pointed out, "Videos containing the spread of false information and derogatory expressions significantly deviated from the scope of simple opinion, and constituted an act that seriously infringed upon the honor and personal rights of the plaintiffs."
Previously, in April 2024, SM Entertainment filed a complaint against the channel operator for defamation and insult under the Information and Communications Network Act. Subsequently, on January 15, 2025, the Incheon District Court sentenced the operator to two years in prison, suspended for three years, along with 120 hours of community service and a forfeiture of approximately 210 million won. The sentence was finalized following appeals.
SM Entertainment stated, "We will continue to take strong legal action against illegal and criminal acts, as well as personal attacks, insulting expressions, and the spread of false information, in order to protect our artists."
Photo=Yonhap News
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)
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