According to Korean media, the Bucheon branch of the Incheon District Prosecutor's Office concluded that there was not enough evidence to prosecute the user, identified as A, for defamation and insult under the Information and Communications networks and networks Act.
The comments were posted in September 2023. A comment appeared under the article titled HYBEs global girl group KATSEYE made Billboards Bubbling Under Hot 100 list, in which this social media user wrote: Furthermore, HYBE recently acquired an American media manipulation company.
Another comment, under a separate article about the legal battle between ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin (the person behind the success of NewJeans) and HYBE, stated: "HYBE seems to be plagued by collective psychology. Did Bang Si Hyuk manipulate them as if they were viet lach...?"
HYBE claimed that these comments alluded to untrue information, such as the company's participation in unethical communication activities...
However, prosecutors determined that users' statements cannot be considered completely untrue. They noted that the company mentioned - The AGENCY, a US-based public relations company acquired by HYBE - is known for its artist-friendly media campaigns. Prosecutors said that calling such a company a " media manipulation company" was a matter of subjective views, not a distorted truth.
The prosecution also mentioned the tone and expressed sense of the comments, including terms such as "mental illness". Although admitting that these statements were vulgar, prosecutors said they were within the scope of personal opinions and criticism - especially given HYBE's publicity and the media's widespread coverage of the company's disputes. They concluded that these statements did not reduce HYBE's social status to the extent necessary to constitute a crime of criminal insult.
According to Korean law, insulting behavior is defined as showing contempt or objective judgment that damages the reputation of others, even if the specific truth is not stated. However, courts often apply stricter standards to public figures or organizations, based on the context, content and public interest of the words...
The prosecution concluded that there was not enough evidence to determine the crime of defamation or criminal insult and dismissed the case.
