LE SSERAFIM and ILLIT’s labels crack down on individuals spreading malicious content and misinformation against the members.
HYBE, the entertainment company behind BTS, SEVENTEEN, ILLIT, and LE SSERAFIM, is taking legal action against seven YouTube channels for uploading content that criticizes their artists. The channels in question have been spreading negative and false information about HYBE’s artists, including plagiarism accusations against ILLIT and LE SSERAFIM.
On March 5, Seoul Central District Court revealed that HYBE submitted an application for the correct identity of the party involved in defamation. Fastview was identified as “Defendant 1” in a lawsuit filed last August.
Separately, Fastview, a startup that received a substantial government grant, has denied intentionally targeting HYBE artists with negative content.
Fastview is a Korean startup with annual sales of 33 billion won and 12.5 billion won in investments. It is facing a lawsuit for uploading defamatory content about HYBE artists through multiple YouTube channels. Despite promoting itself as a content tech company, its actions have raised concerns.
Interestingly, Fastview was selected as a “Baby Unicorn” by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups in 2022 and received 300 million won in support. The company also received additional funding as a “Baby Unicorn Plus” company in 2023. The “Baby Unicorn” designation is given to startups with high growth potential and private sector investments between 2-10 billion won.
HYBE’s subsidiaries and LE SSERAFIM and ILLIT’s agencies, SOURCE MUSIC and BELIFT LAB filed damages lawsuits worth 280 million won against 7 YouTubers.
The 7 targeted YouTube channels, ‘Cute Rabbit Jang’, ‘EnterPick’, ‘People Box’, ‘Da Issue’, ‘NewJeansFam’, ‘Issue Tan’, and ‘Wangjam Issue’, allegedly spread false and malicious claims about HYBE’s artists. Specifically, they accused girl group ILLIT (from BELIFT LAB) of plagiarizing other artists’ content. They also spread harmful misinformation about members of SOURCE MUSIC’s LE SSERAFIM.
In September 2024, HYBE petitioned the Northern District Court of California to gather evidence for foreign legal proceedings against Google, YouTube’s parent company, under Section 1782 of the Federal Code. This was done to uncover the creator of a false video. The investigation, ultimately, revealed that Fastview operates the “People Box” and “Da Issue” YouTube channels.
On another note, ILLIT and LE SSERAFIM have been on the receiving end of hate and backlash, especially after the NewJeans-Min Hee Jin and HYBE conflict began. ILLIT’s successful debut last year was marred by accusations of copying the NewJeans concept.
Since 2024, their agencies have been actively pursuing lawsuits against malicious commenters. Many of them have been identified and some have even been fined 2 million won.
Now, fans look forward to how the case will proceed and hope they get fined heavily for their actions.
