IVE Jang Wonyoung’s Appeal Trial Against Sojang Set for September

The legal dispute between Jang Won Young, a member of IVE, and the entity known as ‘Sojang’ continues to progress, as the Seoul Central District Court has set the date for the first appeal trial hearing to be September 4.

This development is a result of the ongoing legal proceedings that were initiated by Jang Won Young and her agency, Starship Entertainment, against ‘Sojang’ in November 2022.

‘Sojang’ has been accused of cyber defamation by Jang Won Young as well as six other well-known celebrities and influencers. The accusations pertain to 23 videos that were posted on the platform from October 2021 to June 2023, allegedly containing untrue statements and offensive comments about the plaintiffs.

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Included in the accusations were unfounded claims against Jang Won Young, such as accusations of envy and intentional hindrance of her career. A thorough investigation conducted by prosecutors uncovered that ‘Sojang’ had accumulated 250 million KRW (181,712 USD) in earnings within a span of two years, some of which was allegedly utilized for the purchase of property.

Despite being under increasing legal scrutiny, ‘Sojang’ remained steadfast in its defense and argued that the uploaded content was protected under free speech. However, investigations revealed attempts to hide evidence, making the legal situation more complex.

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Earlier this year, Jang Won Young achieved a significant legal victory when she was partially successful in her 100 million KRW (72,674 USD) damages lawsuit against ‘Sojang’. However, the fight is not over as ‘Sojang’ has appealed the decision, indicating that a lengthy legal battle is still to come.

Starship Entertainment, on behalf of Jang Won Young, emphasized their dedication to seeking justice and establishing a precedent against cyber defamation.

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Starship Entertainment reaffirmed their firm stance on not settling the dispute outside of court, emphasizing the importance of a decisive legal ruling to prevent cyber defamation in the future. The ongoing legal case highlights the difficulties of navigating cyber laws and the struggles presented by online defamation in the modern era.

Moreover, there has been speculation that the lyrics of IVE Jang Wonyoung’s self-written song “Blue Heart”from their latest EP “IVE SWITCH”are directed towards YouTuber Sojang.

Netizens have interpreted the lyrics of the song, specifically lines such as “You will be revealed, red lie// You cannot run away, red line,”as alluding to a legal dispute between Jang Wonyoung and Sojang regarding the dissemination of false information.

Despite the speculation, Jang Wonyoung has clarified that the song “HEYA”by IVE promotes a powerful, confident female image. The group’s comeback with “IVE SWITCH”has been warmly received by fans, with “HEYA”being praised as a standout track.