SM Entertainment Wins Defamation Lawsuit Against Malicious Youtuber Sojang Over False Videos

The Seoul Central District Court has ordered the operator of YouTube channel Sojang to pay 170 million won (approximately $115,000) in total damages to SM Entertainment and its artists for producing and posting defamatory videos containing false information.

On Apr. 22, 2026, the 14th Civil Division of the Seoul Central District Court found that the channel operator infringed upon the personality rights of SM Entertainment artists aespa, EXO, and Red Velvet by creating videos with false claims and insulting content.

The court ordered 130 million won (approximately $88,000) in damages to be paid directly to the affected artists, according to Allkpop.

SM Entertainment's Legal Battle

The court awarded an additional 40 million won (approximately $27,000) to SM Entertainment itself, recognizing that the defamatory videos caused substantial harm to the company's business operations. The ruling stated that the videos directly affected public perception of the artists and led to declines in their image and brand value, which are core assets of the entertainment company.

SM Entertainment filed a criminal complaint against the Sojang channel operator in April 2024 for defamation and insults under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, Soompi reported.

In January 2025, the Incheon District Court sentenced the operator, identified as a woman surnamed Park, to two years in prison suspended for three years, along with forfeiture of approximately 211 million won and 120 hours of community service. The Supreme Court upheld this criminal sentence in January 2026.

The Sojang channel operator posted 23 defamatory videos targeting multiple celebrities and influencers between October 2021 and June 2023. Prosecutors determined that the operator earned approximately 250 million won from producing and distributing the malicious content.

The operator has faced similar lawsuits from other entertainment companies and artists, including IVE's Jang Won-young and Kang Daniel, as per the Korea JoongAng Daily.