Famous YouTuber Spreads Fake News About Jang Won-young and BTS Refuses to Accept Court Ruling: Total Damages Top 416 Million KRW
The operator of the controversial channel Talduck Asylum (탈덕수용소), infamous for disseminating manipulated content about idols, is once again in the spotlight. On June 4, the Seoul Central District Court ordered the YouTuber—referred to as “A”—to pay ₩50 million in damages to Starship Entertainment for defamatory content targeting IVE’s Jang Wonyoung. Rather than comply, A filed an appeal on June 18, prolonging the legal battle.
Later, according to an exclusive report by Maeil Business Newspaper on June 24, attorney Jung Kyung-seok from Law Firm LIWU, the legal representative of IVE’s Jang Wonyoung and Starship Entertainment (hereafter Starship), stated to Maeil Business Star Today that “as of the 23rd, the court has granted a stay of compulsory execution requested by the channel Talduk Asylum.”
Talduck Asylum gained notoriety as a “cyberrecka” (cyber + wrecking crew) channel that produced clickbait content filled with baseless claims. These included allegations such as “Jang Wonyoung sabotaged a fellow trainee’s debut” and offensive accusations about idols’ personal lives, including prostitution and plastic surgery.
The Seoul court ruling marked just one of many legal actions. Other celebrities, including BTS’s V, Jungkook, and Kang Daniel, have successfully sued A for defamation. The cumulative amount of fines and penalties now exceeds ₩416 million (~$304,000 USD).
In one criminal case, the Incheon District Court sentenced A to 2 years in prison, suspended for 3 years, and ordered forfeiture of ₩200 million in illegal earnings. Prosecutors also revealed that A had made ₩250 million (~$183,000 USD) in YouTube revenue, part of which was used for real estate purchases.
Despite claiming the content was “in the public interest,” investigators found deleted videos and damning evidence during a home raid, proving intent to defame. In another case, Kang Daniel was awarded ₩30 million in damages, with the court ordering A to cover 70% of legal costs.
The courts continue to weigh in on appeals and ongoing suits. Meanwhile, fans and agencies alike call for stricter regulations to stop malicious content creators who exploit K-pop idols for profit.
