PLEDIS Entertainment has issued an update on its ongoing legal actions to protect SEVENTEEN from malicious content and defamatory posts.
On June 17, the agency released a statement sharing that suspects identified through previous legal complaints have been referred to the prosecution and are now awaiting judgment. PLEDIS also revealed that it has filed both criminal and civil lawsuits against several accounts on X (formerly Twitter) that repeatedly posted defamatory remarks and false information about the group.
Hello, this is PLEDIS Entertainment.
To protect the rights and interests of our artist SEVENTEEN, we have been taking legal action and continuously collecting evidence of malicious posts about the artist through fan reports and our own monitoring efforts. We are also fully aware of the current situation in which numerous malicious posts containing excessive insults and false information about SEVENTEEN are being published, and we would like to provide an update on our ongoing efforts as follows.
1. Update on legal proceedings
Following our previous rounds of legal complaints and action regarding the leakage of artist information, suspects whose identities have been confirmed have been referred to the prosecution, and we are awaiting the outcome of their cases. We have actively cooperated with the investigation to ensure that these individuals face stern punishment, and we are also doing our utmost to substantiate the harm caused to our artist in cases where investigations are still ongoing.
Additionally, this quarter we have comprehensively monitored various platforms, including international social media channels (X, Instagram, YouTube, etc.), domestic communities (such as Naver, Daum, Nate, Theqoo, DC Inside, Instiz, Ilgan Best, FM Korea, Women’s Generation, Jjuckbbang, SoulDresser, etc.), and music sites (Melon, Bugs Music, Genie Music, etc.). We have collected evidence of posts and comments that infringe upon the artist’s rights and submitted formal complaints to the investigative authorities based on this evidence.
2. Update on action against malicious accounts on X
Meanwhile, we have initiated legal proceedings, including criminal and civil lawsuits, against multiple accounts on X that have repeatedly posted malicious content targeting the artist, such as insults and false information. This action is based on reports actively submitted by the fans.
We are also pursuing legal measures, including requests for disclosure of information, in overseas jurisdictions such as the United States to swiftly identify the account holders and take appropriate follow-up action. Despite our previous legal action, we recognize that defamatory and insulting content against our artist continues, and we take this situation very seriously. We will continue strengthening our evidence-gathering and response processes to ensure ongoing and systematic protection, rather than limiting our efforts to one-time measures.
Furthermore, we will pursue all possible legal avenues to ensure strict punishment for defamatory, mocking, or slanderous actions against our artist, without leniency or settlement.
3. Notes on submitting reports
Your interest and reports play a vital role in our legal efforts to protect the artist. If you come across malicious posts or illegal activities targeting SEVENTEEN, we kindly ask that you actively report them through the HYBE Artist Rights Protection website (https://protect.hybecorp.com).
To ensure that your reports can be effectively utilized for legal action, we would like to inform you of the precautions when submitting reports. All relevant information—including the URL, poster’s name or ID, post content, and the date the capture was taken—must be clearly identifiable in order to take meaningful legal measures.
We therefore recommend submitting full-screen captures or PDF files from a PC rather than mobile screenshots, as these formats provide clearer information and are more helpful in legal proceedings.
We are always grateful for the unwavering love and dedication SEVENTEEN’s fans show. Your reports and support play a crucial role in protecting the artist, and we at PLEDIS, as well, are doing our utmost on multiple fronts to respond firmly to malicious acts that infringe upon the artist’s rights. We will continue to actively take action to ensure that the precious values SEVENTEEN and their fans have built together are fully protected.
Thank you.
