Covering Face, YouTuber Attends Court for Defaming Jang Wonyoung and Being Sued by Kang Daniel

On May 27th, YouTuber Park appeared in court at the Criminal Division 18 of Seoul Central District Court. The trial was regarding charges against Park for violating the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, specifically for defamation. Judge Lee Jun-gu presided over the trial.

In court, Park was dressed in a pink shirt and white skirt, and she had on a wig, glasses, and a mask to cover her face. When questioned about her job, she stated, “I manage an internet shopping platform.”

In June 2022, Park shared videos on “Sojang” discussing Kang Daniel, with titles such as “The Nation’s Boyfriend: Exposing the Scandalous Life of an Actor and Idol” . The prosecution alleged that Park’s intention with these videos was to defame Kang Daniel.

Park’s lawyer confirmed the production and sharing of the videos, but denied any malicious intent. They stated, “There was no intention to defame; Park genuinely believed the information to be accurate.”

The court asked if Park was aware that the information was false. In response, the lawyer stated that they were unable to confirm it and that it was the prosecution’s responsibility to prove its falsity.

Dispatch inquired Park as she exited the court, posing several questions such as, “What was the reason behind your multiple name changes?”, “Despite receiving legal warnings from agencies, why did you persist in posting videos?”and “Have you used your YouTube earnings to purchase a house?”

Park concealed her face with the wig and remained silent. Her lawyer interjected, declaring, “We will discuss these matters in the upcoming hearing.”

Park is currently facing multiple legal battles. She is engaged in a civil lawsuit against IVE’s Jang Wonyoung and her agency Starship Entertainment, who were victorious in the initial trial.

Despite Park’s appeal, the mediation attempt during the second trial was unsuccessful, resulting in continued legal disputes.

Furthermore, Park is currently dealing with criminal charges. On the present day, the Incheon District Prosecutor’s Office has officially charged Park without detaining them for alleged defamation and insult under the Information and Communications Network Act.

Between October 2021 and June of the previous year, it is alleged that Park uploaded 23 videos on the “Sojang”YouTube channel that defamed celebrities.

Additionally, there are reports that Park was able to earn a total of 250 million won from these videos within a span of 2 years, which they used to purchase real estate and build a substantial amount of wealth.