IVE‘s Jang Wonyoung won her case against the malicious YouTuber and harasser Sojang.
According to About Music and AKP, the court sentenced Sojang to two years of suspended imprisonment and three years of probation, and ordered her to pay 200 million KRW in restitution.
The YouTuber, revealed to be a Ms. Park, gained notoriety for creating inflammatory content about famous Korean celebrities, including Wonyoung, Kang Daniel, and EXO‘s Suho. Many of Sojang’s videos featured spliced footage, manipulated content, and outright lies. Wonyoung filed a 1 million KRW damage suit against Sojang, with the court ordering Ms. Park to pay the full amount. Kang Daniel was awarded 30 million KRW in compensation. Ms. Park has appealed both cases. Separate lawsuits from BTS members Jungkook and V are ongoing.
Judge Kim Saet Byeol, presiding over the case, stated, “Defamation causes irreparable harm to victims and must be dealt with severely.” The court also noted that Ms. Park earned significant income from her defamatory videos.
Fans reacted to news of Sojang’s sentencing, expressing support for Wonyoung and hope for broader change. One fan wrote, “Glad this went Wonyoung’s way but I really hope Sojang learns from this and that it deters others from doing shit like this. Idols are human beings and have feelings same as anyone else.” Another added, “The fine should have been higher – a strong message to others of the same ilk that actions have consequences.”
Reports state that Ms. Park pleaded for leniency during her trial, saying, “I have been trapped in my own world on the internet and failed to judge right from wrong. I deeply regret my actions and promise to live responsibly from now on.”
Source: X, formerly known as Twitter, AKP
