Latest news with #StarshipEntertainment
Korea Herald
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Starship Entertainment wins lawsuit against cyberbully 'Taldeok Prison Camp'
Notorious "cyber wrecker" operator faces continous defeat in lawsuits Starship Entertainment, the agency behind girl group Ive, has won a partial victory in its lawsuit for damages against cyberbully YouTube channel "Taldeok Prison Camp." On Tuesday, the court ruled in favor of Starship, ordering the channel operator, a woman surnamed Park, born in 1988, to pay 50 million won ($37,000) in damages. The verdict will serve as a strong warning to a growing number of so-called "cyber wrecker" channels, which profit from spreading malicious, baseless rumors and defamatory content about celebrities. From November 2022, Starship filed both civil and criminal suits against 'Taldeok Prison Camp,' citing the continuous spread of false claims that severely defamed the agency and its artists, disrupted business operations, and caused significant emotional distress to both the artists and their fans. The agency initially sought 100 million won in damages. To identify the anonymous channel operator, Starship utilized the US legal system's discovery process. They first obtained a disclosure order from a US court and demanded that the identity of the person behind "Taldeok Prison Camp" be revealed to Google's US headquarters. Park became the first anonymous Korean YouTuber to be unmasked and brought to court. Between October 2021 and June 2023, Park uploaded 23 defamatory videos targeting seven celebrities. Earlier this year, Jang Wonyoung also won a separate civil suit against Park, with the court ordering Park to pay another 50 million won in damages. Park has faced other lawsuits and convictions for spreading malicious rumors about other K-pop stars, including Kang Daniel, Karina, Suho, V and Jungkook. In one such case, she was convicted in the first trial and sentenced to two years in prison, with three years' probation. The appeal is ongoing. In a statement following the court's decision, Starship said, 'Through this ruling, we have pursued every possible civil and criminal avenue against the operator of 'Taldeok Prison Camp.' We believe this result holds her legally accountable beyond the financial gains she made from her illegal acts.' The agency added, 'This case sends a clear and powerful warning to so-called 'cyber wrecker' creators who profit from content that defames, insults or slanders others for clicks and revenue.'
Pink Villa
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
IVE's Jang Wonyoung and agency win 50M KRW defamation lawsuit against Sojang, following BTS' Jungkook and V
The Seoul Central District Court has delivered a significant verdict in a civil defamation lawsuit involving the now-deleted YouTube channel Sojang. The channel is also known as Taldeok Camp. Its operator has been ordered to pay 50 million KRW in damages to Starship Entertainment. The compensation is for distributing false and defamatory content about IVE member Jang Wonyoung. On May 4, 2025, Judge Choi Mi Young of the court's 50th Civil Division presided over the first trial hearing. It had initially been postponed from its original date of April 23. The court partially sided with Starship. They concluded that the channel's content had seriously harmed both the idol's image and the agency's reputation. Basis for court's decision While the agency had filed for 100 million KRW in damages, the judge awarded 50 million won plus interest, citing multiple aggravating factors. The court considered: The number and severity of the uploaded videos, The malicious and misleading nature of their content, Starship's prominent status within the entertainment industry, The central role of Jang Wonyoung and IVE in the agency's business operations, The fact that Sojang operated as a high-profile 'cyber wrecker', influencing public opinion and fueling online hate. Moreover, it was noted that each of Sojang's defamatory videos garnered between 100,000 and 1 million views. This amplifies the damage done to Jang Wonyoung's public image. About Starship vs Sojang case Starship Entertainment has been pursuing both civil and criminal litigation against the operator since November 2022. The operator was previously indicted under South Korea's Information and Communications Network Act, which penalizes acts of defamation and online personal attacks. Sojang had built a reputation for targeting high-profile celebrities through a series of videos spreading baseless claims. In addition to Jang Wonyoung, the channel also published harmful content about BTS, Kang Daniel, and other K-pop stars and influencers. Reports revealed that the operator profited nearly 250 million KRW from monetized views before the channel was ultimately taken down. Sojang's mounting legal defeats Apart from her agency's legal actions, Jang Wonyoung herself had independently filed a separate lawsuit of 100 million KRW against the same channel. In January 2025, the court ruled in her favor. It ordered the operator to pay another 50 million won in compensation directly to the idol. The May 4 ruling is only the latest in a series of courtroom losses for Sojang. In November 2024, the channel operator was ordered to pay 30 million won in damages to Kang Daniel. The court found the posted content to be false and intentionally damaging. In another significant judgment from February 2025, Big Hit Music, along with BTS members V and Jungkook, won a combined 76 million KRW in damages against Sojang. The breakdown included: 51 million KRW to Big Hit Music, 10 million KRW to V (Kim Taehyung), 15 million KRW to Jungkook. These repeated losses paint a grim picture for the channel's operator, who now faces a heavy legal and financial burden.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Who is Park Jun-hwan? 'NewKids' finalist makes 'IDID' debut as bullying and deepfake claims surface
Rookie idol Park Jun-hwan, who secured his spot in Starship Entertainment's upcoming boy group IDID through the survival show 'Debut's Plan: NewKids', is facing serious allegations from individuals claiming to be his former classmates. As the controversy escalated, the hashtag #ParkJunhwan_OUT began trending on X (formerly Twitter) on May 19, 2025, with netizens demanding his removal from the group. [🌠] #박준환_DID안녕하세요! IDID 박준환입니다!🐻오늘 마지막 음악방송이 끝났는데 너무 아쉽기도 하고, 정말 좋은 경험이었던 것 같습니다.선배님들을 보면서 많은 것을 배웠고, 앞으로 좋은 무대로 팬분들을 뵐 수 있도록 열심히 준비하겠습니다!모두 아프지 말고 건강한 모습으로 봬요!… Accusations surface online Park Jun-hwan has been accused of misogynistic behavior and inappropriate conduct during his school days. Several users shared screenshots and messages, alleging that he made disrespectful comments about women, engaged in troubling relationships, and was involved in creating fake photos of female classmates. As the outrage grew on X, many noticed that several accounts either disappeared overnight or were deactivated. Some users speculated that Starship Entertainment may be involved, and pointed to Park Jun-hwan's allegedly powerful family as the reason he debuted despite ranking low on the survival show, while other more talented trainees were not selected. Now, one user on X has posted a detailed thread explaining the situation and stressing the need to keep him away from female idols — especially rookie girl group KiiiKiii which is under the same company and includes minors. The user argued that he should not be in close proximity to them. who is park junhwan and why he needs to be banned from the industry ; a thread Fans sent wreaths Some fans even took their outrage offline by sending funeral wreaths to Starship Entertainment's headquarters — a powerful protest method in Korea symbolizing disappointment and disapproval. While protestors clarified that the wreaths were not meant as threats, they expressed deep frustration over the idol's inclusion in the group. Many others joined the call, urging Starship to take immediate action. No official statement yet Despite the growing backlash, Starship Entertainment has yet to issue an official statement. The silence from the company has only intensified criticism, with some netizens accusing the label of failing to support the victims and protect the group's image. About IDID's pre-debut promotions IDID is an eight-member boy group formed through Debut's Plan, includes members Kim Min-jae, Jang Yong-hoon, Baek Joon-hyuk, Park Won-bin, Chu Yu-chan, Jung Se-min, Park Jun-hwan, and Park Seong-hyun. The group is currently gearing up for their official debut in the second half of 2025. [📸] #IDID_ITIDID #인기가요 무대 완료👑아이딧의 #꽃피울CROWN 스페셜 스테이지를 함께해 주셔서 감사합니다🌷열심히 데뷔 준비해서 돌아올게요🌠#IDID #아이딧 Their pre-debut track CROWN, which celebrates overcoming hardships, has already been performed on major music shows like M Countdown, Music Bank, Show! Music Core, and SBS Inkigayo. Fans praised the group's powerful stage presence and choreography, building excitement for their debut. As pre-debut promotions continue, the controversy surrounding Park Jun-hwan continues to cast a shadow over the group's momentum, with mounting pressure on Starship Entertainment to address the growing backlash and protect the remaining members ahead of their official debut. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
Pink Villa
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Why Is Starship Ent's new idol facing removal calls even before debut? All we know about wreath protest against IDID's Park Jun Hwan
Trigger Warning: This article contains mentions of alleged inappropriate s*xual behavior, misogyny, and non-consensual acts, which may be distressing or triggering to some readers. Please proceed with caution. In a dramatic turn of events ahead of an upcoming K-pop debut, fans have organized a symbolic protest involving funeral wreaths. They demand the removal of a trainee from a newly formed boy group. The controversy centers around Park Jun Hwan, a member of IDID. The group is created through Starship Entertainment's recent survival show Debut Plan. Although the show concluded with much anticipation for the group's official debut later this year, troubling accusations have cast a shadow over the excitement. Multiple anonymous individuals, claiming to be former classmates of Park Jun Hwan, have come forward with disturbing allegations regarding his behavior during his school years. These individuals have shared messages, screenshots, and alleged conversations. All of which suggest a pattern of misogynistic and s*xually exploitative behavior attributed to Jun Hwan. According to the claims circulating online, Park was allegedly known among his peers for a preoccupation with s*xual activity. He was said to have engaged in numerous inappropriate relationships while still in school. Some even claimed he spoke publicly about these encounters. This includes a reported incident where he was allegedly caught engaging in intimate activity on school grounds. One particularly serious accusation involves a situation in which he is said to have ignored his partner's request to use protection, raising concerns over issues of consent. Further fueling the controversy are images purportedly from a former girlfriend. However, the authenticity of these photos and their connection to the events described remain unverified. Despite the growing uproar, Starship Entertainment has yet to release a formal statement addressing any of the allegations. In response, a group of fans has coordinated and organized a protest. It is an increasingly common form of activism in the K-pop community. They have begun collecting donations to send large funeral wreaths to Starship Entertainment's headquarters. These wreaths, typically reserved for funerals or memorials, have become a visual symbol of discontent in K-pop fandoms. They are often used to call attention to grievances against companies or idols. The protest organizers were quick to clarify that the wreaths do not represent a death wish. They are meant to symbolize a call for the end of Jun Hwan's involvement with the group. The campaign has gained traction on social media platforms. Posts are appearing in multiple languages urging others to contribute and join the cause. Many fans argue that allowing Park to debut without addressing these allegations sends a harmful message about accountability in the industry. Starship Entertainment's silence continues to raise eyebrows, and many are waiting to see how they will respond to the growing pressure. In the meantime, the fate of Park Jun Hwan hangs in the balance.
Korea Herald
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Monsta X to hold concerts in Korea, Japan in July
Monsta X announced via agency Starship Entertainment Thursday that it would hold its first full-member concerts in three years in July. Under the title 'Connect X,' the band is planning three days of shows in Seoul on July 18-20. The last day's live performance will be broadcast online as well. On Aug. 27-28, the group will hit the stage in Yokohama, Japan. The six members hinted at the concerts during a livestream on Wednesday to celebrate their 10th anniversary. They reunited after everyone, except the youngest, I.M, completed serving their mandatory military duty, including Hyungwon who was discharged on the previous day. Monsta X dropped digital compilation album 'Now Project Vol. 1' to mark the milestone, re-recording previously published songs to add the voices of members who could not join for the originals.
