HYBE files mass lawsuits against malicious YouTubers targeting LE SSERAFIM and ILLIT

On Friday, September 20, Korean Media outlet News1 released an article announcing that HYBE Labels filed mass lawsuits against malicious YouTubers who targeted the K-pop girl groups LE SSERAFIM and ILLIT. The news report explained that the label and its subsidiary have filed a total of eight lawsuits against seven YouTubers.

They filed the lawsuits through the Seoul Western District Court on charges that included cyber defamation and spreading false information about LE SSERAFIM and ILLIT. Some of the YouTubers on the list include 엔터픽 (Enterpick), 왕잼이슈 (Very Interesting Issue), 이슈쓱 (Issue Sseuk), 피플박스 (People Box), and 다잇슈 (Daitsh).

The accused YouTubers have allegedly been repeatedly sharing false information about the two groups. They also claimed that LE SSERAFIM and ILLIT plagiarized other artists' songs. Additionally, some of their claims also stated that LE SSERAFIM was involved with specific religious groups and supposedly showcased pro-Japanese tendencies.

Therefore, HYBE Labels and its subsidiary, the agency under which LE SSERAFIM is housed, have taken legal action against them. Through the news report released by News 1, they also emphasized that these claims and allegations made by the YouTube channels are false and groundless.

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All you need to know about HYBE Labels' lawsuit against the malicious YouTubers who attacked LE SSERAFIM and ILLIT

Apart from the lawsuit, HYBE Labels has also turned to a federal court in the US for help regarding the revelation of the YouTubers' identity. Their request to the court was for Google, the owner of YouTube, to disclose the identities of the individuals behind the YouTube channels they have sued.

This was taken to the US court instead of the Korean courts since the Korean courts don't have jurisdiction over Google. The lawyers at HYBE representing the case also discussed the crime committed by the YouTubers.

They said:

“Among other things, statements in these videos falsely accuse [HYBE and its label Belift Lab] and ILLIT of plagiarizing content from other artists, including a female K-pop group called NewJeans."

The HYBE lawyers added that the YouTubers also accused LE SSERAFIM of trying to mask or fake their singing abilities during live performances. Therefore, the request to reveal the YouTubers' identity was made to the US District Court for the Northern District of California on Monday, September 9.

Another similar case where HYBE Labels sued netizens who defamed their artists was in May 2024. HYBE filed a complaint with the Seoul Yongsan Police Department against user @guiltyarchive for their alleged malicious actions towards BTS and LE SSERAFIM. Following the same, in July 2024, HYBE requested the US District Court for the Northern District of California to reveal the identity of @guiltyarchive.

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This complaint was registered as @guiltyarchive claimed LE SSERAFIM was the cause behind GFRIEND's disbandment and also allegedly directed several slanderous posts against BTS. The account also connected BTS to a cult organization. However, the court didn not approve the request made by the label.