The operator behind the YouTube channel Sojang, one of K-pop’s most notorious gossip and fake news channels, has been ordered to pay 170 million won ($115,000) to K-pop agency SM Entertainment and its artists over defamatory videos targeting aespa, EXO and Red Velvet.

The operator of the YouTube channel, who has been accused of posting videos containing false claims and defamatory content, was ordered by a court on April 22 to pay a total of 130 million won to girl groups aespa and Red Velvet and boy band EXO for sharing videos containing ad hominem attacks and infringing the artists’ personality rights, according to SM Entertainment on Wednesday.


“[The operator] spread false information about [SM Entertainment] singers through the Sojang channel and openly insulted them by producing and posting videos containing personal attacks or contemptuous expressions,” the court said, according to the K-pop agency.

“This clearly went far beyond the extent of expressing an opinion and seriously infringed on the singers’ honor and personality rights.”

The YouTube channel owner was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for three years. The court also ordered them to complete 120 hours of community service and pay 40 million won to SM Entertainment for obstructing the agency’s business and promotion by directly affecting the public image of its artists, affecting the brand value.

The court effectively upheld the lower court’s original ruling, which had sentenced the YouTube channel owner in January 2025 to two years in prison, suspended for three years, and ordered them to pay 170 million won to SM Entertainment. The agency had filed a complaint in April 2024.

“We will continue to take strong legal action to protect our artists from illegal actions, criminal conduct, personal attacks, insults or contemptuous expressions and the spread of fake information,” SM Entertainment said.

The operator behind Sojang was previously sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for three years, alongside a penalty surcharge of 210 million won and 120 hours of community service, for spreading false rumors and hate comments against girl group IVE Member Jang Won-young.

BY CHO YONG-JUN [cho.yongjun1@joongang.co.kr]