On June 5, News1 reported that the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 20, presided over by Judge Lim Jeong-bin, fined the woman, identified by the surname Kim, 3 million KRW (approximately $2,200 USD) for defamation.
Kim had been indicted for leaving a sexually explicit and defamatory comment on a portal site in February 2024. The comment in question targeted IU and included the provocative accusation, “Did she bribe the judge?”
Despite Kim’s claims in court that her comments were not directed at any specific individual and did not harm the public’s perception of IU, the judge firmly rejected her defense. “The defendant clearly targeted the victim with the comment,” the judge stated. “The statement is deemed damaging to the victim’s social evaluation and thus constitutes defamation.”
What shocked many was the court’s revelation that Kim has a history of similar behavior. She previously received a fine of 3 million KRW in December 2024 for four malicious comments criticizing IU’s appearance and vocal abilities. In that case, she had pleaded for leniency, citing a mental illness and claiming it affected her ability to express herself properly.
However, the court pointed out that the most recent offense occurred before charges were filed for her previous defamation case. Although Kim has not been subjected to criminal penalties beyond fines, the court emphasized her lack of remorse and absence of an apology to IU.
As cyberbullying continues to plague public figures, this case underscores the serious consequences for repeat offenders. Fans have applauded the court’s firm stance in defending artists like IU from ongoing online harassment.
