IU malicious commenter receives suspended prison sentence on appeal

A netizen convicted of repeatedly posting malicious comments about singer-actress IU received a harsher sentence on appeal after the court found that the defendant had shown no remorse for the offenses.

According to legal sources on May 31, 2026 (KST), the Seoul Central District Court's appellate division sentenced the defendant, identified only as A, to four months in prison, suspended for one year, on charges of criminal insult. The court also ordered one year of probation and 80 hours of community service.

In the original trial, A was fined 3 million won for posting four malicious online comments targeting IU. During the appeals process, however, the case was merged with a separate prosecution involving similar comments posted by the same defendant, resulting in a heavier sentence. In that separate case, A had also received a fine of 3 million won in the first trial.

The appellate court found that the defendant referred to IU using expressions such as "fraud" and "mentally ill," ruling that the remarks amounted to criminal insult under Korean law and that intent was clearly established.

The court further stated that even though IU is a public figure, the comments "exceeded the level of criticism that could be considered socially acceptable."

Explaining the harsher sentence, the court noted that the defendant continued to deny the offenses throughout the appeal proceedings and had shown no signs of remorse. The court also pointed out that the defendant had not been forgiven by the victim and had repeatedly committed similar offenses, indicating a significant risk of reoffending.

However, the court said it took several mitigating factors into consideration, including the defendant's diagnosis of intractable epilepsy, which may have affected emotional regulation, as well as the fact that the comments were eventually deleted.

Because the defendant did not appeal further, the ruling has become final.