Sojang Claims ‘Public Interest’ Defense in BTS Jungkook and V Defamation Lawsuit

The Seoul Western District Court held its first hearing for the defamation lawsuit filed by BTS members V and Jungkook against the operator of the YouTube channel Taldeok Camp (Sojang). 

The court session, presided over by Judge Lee Gwan-hyung, began at 10:10 AM KST. 

BIGHIT MUSIC and BTS members V are seeking 90 million KRW in damages for slander and defamation. The YouTube channel claimed their content was not defamatory in the first hearing held today.

The plaintiff BIGHIT MUSIC argued that the channel has been spreading false information and hurtful content about them, and making money from it. They want the channel to pay for damaging their reputation and violating their personal rights.

Sojang claimed innocence in response to the allegations made by the plaintiffs. The channel operator acknowledged creating the video but claimed it was just an opinion piece, not defamation.

They argued that the content may not be entirely false, and even if it were, it would be protected under the umbrella of public interest. Furthermore, they claim that the video does not infringe on the personal rights of the celebrities in question, V and Jungkook. 

Sojang has been running the anti-fan camp since 2021, using it as a platform to groundlessly slander and spread false information about various celebrities, including singers and actors.

The channel operator has a history of continuously harassing K-pop idols, including V and Jungkook, by fabricating facts. This is not the first time Person A has faced legal action for their actions. Previously, Jang Wonyoung of IVE and her agency Starship Entertainment filed a damages lawsuit against Person A and won in the first trial.

Currently, Sojang faces trial for defaming singer Kang Daniel, and the latest lawsuit from V, Jungkook, and BIGHIT MUSIC.