YouTuber Sojang fined 10 million won for defaming Kang Daniel

YouTuber Sojang, infamous for her derogatory videos about K-pop stars, has been sentenced to a 10 million won ($7,460) fine on Wednesday for defamation of singer Kang Daniel.

Singer Kang Daniel at the Gimpo International Airport on July 26 [NEWS1]

YouTuber Sojang, infamous for her derogatory videos about K-pop stars, has been sentenced to a 10 million won ($7,460) fine on Wednesday for defamation of singer Kang Daniel.

The fine was three times higher than the 3 million won fine that the prosecution recommended the judge.

Sojang, a 35-year-old YouTuber known by her surname Park, had uploaded multiple videos of false rumors against K-pop stars especially regarding their love lives or plastic surgery. Kang reported her to the police for uploading a video titled "The promiscuous private life of the Korean heartthrob idol" in 2022.

"Park has uploaded defamatory and suggestive content on celebrities for her economic benefit," the court said in the ruling. "Strict punishment is necessary because the content can lead to irrevocable damage to the celebrities and their agencies."

Park argued that she "believed the content of the videos to be true," but the court dismissed the claim because she failed to reveal her sources, according to the ruling.

YouTuber Sojang at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul on Sept. 11 [NEWS1]

Kang will also file a civil lawsuit demanding 100 million won as compensation for the damage in his reputation, according to his agency ARA.

"The two years until the verdict was reached put both the artist and his fans in an agony that cannot be fully expressed with words," the agency said. "We believe that a civil lawsuit is the minimal protection against more potential victims or a similar incident from occurring in the future."

"We will also take the same measures against any similar attempts to defame the artist in the future," added the agency.

Park also faces a criminal lawsuit for defaming seven artists including girl group IVE's Jang Won-young. V and Jungkook of boy band BTS filed a civil lawsuit against Sojang in March.

BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]