SM Entertainment wins lawsuit against Sojang operator

SM Entertainment has won its lawsuit against the operator of the controversial YouTube channel “Sojang,” securing damages for defamation against its artists.

According to the court ruling on April 22, the Seoul Central District Court determined that the channel operator had produced and uploaded videos containing false information and malicious, defamatory content targeting artists including aespa, EXO, and Red Velvet. The court found that such content constituted a serious violation of the artists’ personal rights.

The court ordered the defendant to pay a total of 130 million KRW(~88,000 USD) in damages to the artists. In addition, it ruled that the videos had negatively impacted public perception and diminished the brand value of the artists—key assets of the company—thereby harming business operations. As a result, an additional 40 million KRW was awarded to SM Entertainment, bringing the total compensation to 170 million KRW.

This civil ruling follows earlier criminal proceedings. In January 2025, the operator was sentenced by the Incheon District Court to two years in prison, suspended for three years, along with 120 hours of community service and forfeiture of approximately 211 million KRW. The ruling was later upheld after appeals.

The court emphasized that the defendant’s actions went far beyond acceptable expression of opinion, noting that the deliberate spread of false information and use of insulting language caused significant damage to the artists’ reputations.

In response, SM Entertainment stated that it will continue to take strong legal action against illegal activities, including defamation, harassment, and the spread of false information, to protect its artists.