Korean Celebrities Say “Enough” to Online Abuse and Slander: BoA, IU & Jang Wonyoung
In a growing wave of public backlash and online vitriol, a number of South Korea’s top entertainers are speaking out—and taking legal action—against malicious defamation and character attacks. The latest high-profile case involves legendary singer BoA, with similar incidents affecting IU and IVE’s Jang Wonyoung.
BoA Becomes Victim of Public Vandalism
On June 13, Seoul’s Gangnam Police announced the detainment of a woman in her 30s, accused of property damage and defamation for scrawling offensive graffiti targeting BoA across ten public areas, including bus stops and electrical panels. The hateful phrases included vulgar accusations referencing sexually transmitted diseases.
In response, SM Entertainment confirmed it had submitted an official complaint on June 11 after collecting multiple fan reports and conducting its own monitoring. “This is a serious defamation issue. We are cooperating with authorities to ensure a thorough investigation,” the agency stated.
IU Faces Persistent Harassment
Singer-songwriter IU continues to endure a string of attacks from malicious commenters. One woman in her 40s, previously fined ₩3 million in December 2023 for posting offensive remarks, was recently fined an additional ₩3 million for repeated slander. Her attempts to avoid penalty by citing mental health and lack of literary clarity were rejected by the court.
The offensive remarks included sexual innuendos and accusations of bribing judges, shared under the official posts of IU’s agency EDAM Entertainment.
Jang Wonyoung Wins Legal Battle
Meanwhile, Jang Wonyoung of girl group IVE recently scored a legal victory against YouTuber “Sojang,” who spread damaging rumors about her between 2021 and 2023. Starship Entertainment, along with Wonyoung herself, pursued a combined ₩200 million lawsuit.
On June 4, Seoul Central District Court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs. Judge Choi Mi-young ordered the defendant to pay ₩50 million in damages to Starship, with interest rates applying retroactively from August 2023. Additional litigation filed personally by Wonyoung remains pending.
Traditionally, Korean celebrities have been expected to endure harsh criticism as a “cost of fame.” However, public and legal discourse is shifting. Many argue that malicious online behavior often tantamount to digital “terrorism” has crossed a line and should no longer be normalized.