The appeal trial will resume after the mediation of the damages lawsuit filed by BTS members V and Jungkook against Mr. A, the operator of the YouTube channel ‘탈덕수입장’ also known Sojang, who spreading malicious rumors against idols, has ended in failure.
According to a report by Maeil Kyungjae Star Today on the 21st, the Seoul Western District Court concluded that ‘mediation was not successful’ at the mediation hearing for the damages lawsuit filed by V, Jungkook, and their agency Big Hit Music against Mr. A.
In March 2024, Big Hit Music and BTS members V and Jungkook filed a 90 million won damages lawsuit against Mr. A, the operator of the YouTube channel ‘탈덕수입장’, claiming that he had damaged their reputation and interfered with the agency’s business by posting false videos.
In the first trial held in February, the court sentenced Mr. A to pay 51 million won to Big Hit Music, 10 million won to V, and 15 million won to Jungkook, In addition to covering all litigation costs. However, Mr. A, who was dissatisfied with the decision, filed an appeal, and the second trial court made a decision to refer to mediation on the 16th of last month.
However, the mediation was not successful as the two parties failed to reach an agreement at the mediation date, and the existing appeal trial will resume.
The formal trial is scheduled to resume before the court, with new hearings addressing evidence and testimony. The focus will be on the actual damages suffered by the defendants and the possibility of increasing or decreasing the amount of compensation.
The YouTube channel ‘탈덕수약소’ has been producing and posting videos based on malicious rumors related to celebrities and influencers since 2021, and the operator, Mr. A, is being tried in civil and criminal courts for spreading false information and defamation against V, Jungkook, and Jang Won-young of the group IVE, and Kang Daniel. The YouTube channel in question has currently been deleted.
The defendant shut down her channel “Sojang” following the lawsuits, and was previously convicted in a criminal case on defamation charges, receiving a two-year suspended prison sentence.
