"Not false and defamatory" — YouTuber SOJANG reportedly claims 'public interest' defense in BTS' Teahyung & Jungkook's defamation lawsuit

BTS members Kim Taehyung and Jeon Jungkook's lawsuit against YouTuber SOJANG received a new update. On August 23, 2024, South Korean media outlet Star News reported that SOJANG pleaded "not guilty" during the first lawsuit hearing at the 12th Civil Division of the Seoul Western District Court.

The YouTube channel SOJANG (Taldeok Camp in Korean) stated that its video regarding the two BTS members wasn't defamatory or "false" and was an "opinion."

“We admit that the video itself (was made), but considering the method and content, it is only an opinion piece and not false and defamatory.”

The channel further said that the content could not be acknowledged as a "crime" as it was created for the public interest. SOJANG asserted that there was no infringement of personal rights.

"They are claiming that (the content) is false, and even if it were false, it is not recognized as a crime because it was produced for the public interest. It also did not reach the level of infringement on personal rights."

Taehyung, Jungkook, and their agency, BIGHIT MUSIC (now HYBE Labels), filed the defamation lawsuit in March 2024. They demanded 90 million won ($67,233.42) in damages. Earlier, BTS' management aggressively pressed for legal action against perpetrators who defamed the musicians.

HYBE filed a lawsuit against SOJANG in 2022 for defamation and commercial obstruction. However, the investigation was halted, but HYBE continued to push for a resumption and submitted more evidence to the police. This resulted in the reopening of the case in May 2023. In March 2024, BTS' Taehyung and Jungkook filed another lawsuit to press charges against SOJANG.

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BIGHIT MUSIC issues statement for BTS' Taehyugn & Jungkook's defamation lawsuit against SOJANG

Taldeok Camp, aka SOJANG, is a channel infamous for uploading defamatory videos against several K-pop idols. In 2023, Wooyoung from IVE sued the channel and demanded 100 million won ($74,708.54) in damages. In May 2024, she won the lawsuit when SOJANG was found guilty of defamation and spreading misinformation, among other charges.

On August 23, 2024, the lawyers representing BIGHIT MUSIC (now HYBE) and BTS' Taehyung and Jungkook gave an official statement during the first hearing.

"The defendant (Taldeoksuyongso) is a channel that amplifies and reproduces false facts and provocative issues. They have profited considerably due to the plaintiff, and they have filed a lawsuit for damages in order to denounce the false facts and violation of personal rights discussed in this video," the lawyers said, as per Star News.

The YouTube channel created a video on BTS and accused them of alleged music chart manipulation. In their defense, SOJANG submitted a report by the South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

However, BIGHIT MUSIC stated that it would submit evidence related to the report by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

"We will check the verdict that the defendant (SOJANG) is handling, but the basic core is the issue of a specific plaintiff's illegal private investment in this case.[...] If evidence is needed in relation to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's investigation, we will submit the related materials after checking them,"

The South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism reportedly considered opening an investigation in late March 2024 against the K-pop band for alleged chart manipulation. SOJANG claimed their video was an "opinion" on the existing report.

For the uninitiated, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism received a petition from an anonymous citizen who demanded an investigation into the K-pop band's chart rankings and data from 2019. However, the Ministry said it would review it thoroughly before investigating the K-pop band.

HYBE immediately pressed charges against SOJANG for uploading videos slandering the BTS members for "concept thefts," chart manipulation, and their alleged connection to Dahnworld.

"Recent attempts to defame and slander BTS, such as music chart manipulation marketing, concept theft, connection to Dahnworld, and suspicions of a pseudo-religion, are not true," the agency said.

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The second hearing of the defamation lawsuit of BIGHIT MUSIC, Kim Taehyung, and Jeon Jungkook vs SOJANG is scheduled for October 25, 2024, at 11.10 am (KST).