SM Entertainment has won its case against the YouTube channel Taldeok Suyongso, with a Seoul court ordering the channel operator to pay a total of ₩170 million in damages for posting defamatory videos targeting SM artists.
On the 29th, SM Entertainment announced on its official social media accounts: "We would like to share the results of our legal action against the YouTube channel Taldeok Suyongso, which produced and distributed videos containing false claims with the intent to defame our artists."
Earlier, in April 2024, SM Entertainment filed a criminal complaint against Taldeok Suyongso for defamation and insult under the Information and Communications Network Act over content about EXO, Red Velvet, and aespa, and subsequently filed a civil lawsuit in October of the same year.
In a ruling on the 22nd, the 14th Civil Division of the Seoul Central District Court found that the operator of Taldeok Suyongso created and posted videos containing recognition-attacking expressions aimed at SM Entertainment artists, infringing on their personality rights, and ordered payment of ₩130 million in damages to the artists.
The court also determined that the videos caused substantial disruption to SM Entertainment’s business operations and ordered an additional ₩40 million in damages to the company, bringing the total to ₩170 million.
SM Entertainment stated, "To protect our artists, we will continue to take strong legal action against all illegal and criminal acts, as well as YouTube channels that engage in personal attacks, use insulting or derogatory expressions, and spread false information."