HYBE Attempts To Sue Netizen For Shocking Comparisons To Hamas, But It Backfires Big Time

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The prosecution’s decision has sparked strong reactions.

Koreaboo

9 minutes ago

HYBE recently attempted to take legal action against a netizen who accused the company of “media manipulation” and compared them to Hamas in the comment section of a Naver News article.

However, the prosecution has decided not to indict the individual, stating there is insufficient evidence to prove the comments were criminally defamatory or insulting.

According to Financial News, the Bucheon branch of the Incheon District Prosecutors’ Office ruled on July 4 that the individual would not be charged for defamation or insult. The case stemmed from a comment A posted in September last year, which read, “Oh, and HYBE recently acquired a U.S. media manipulation firm.”

In another post, they wrote, “HYBE seems mentally ill as a group. Did Bang Si Hyuk get juice-lit again? Just lying like Hamas.”

HYBE argued that the netizen had defamed the company by spreading false claims about its acquisition of a U.S.-based PR firm, The Ascent, and had insulted the company by “describing it as mentally ill and comparing it to Hamas, a terrorist organization.”

Palestinian Hamas fighter's parade Reuters

However, prosecutors found that the term “manipulation” was too subjective to classify as a false fact, and that the accused’s comments were likely expressions of personal opinion.

The Ascent Group is a PR agency that edits in favor of celebrities, and it is difficult to consider the term ‘manipulation’ as a false statement. It cannot be definitively said that the commenter intended to assert HYBE manipulated the media in the U.S., and even if The Ascent was referred to as a media manipulation firm, it is difficult to determine that this damaged HYBE’s social reputation.

— Prosecution

The prosecution also addressed the inflammatory language used in the comments.

While terms like ‘mentally ill’ and ‘Hamas’ are undoubtedly rude, there is room to interpret the comments as expressions of personal opinion. It is hard to conclude that the comments alone caused a decline in HYBE’s social value.

— Prosecution

hybe building