Several online users who repeatedly posted harmful comments against NewJeans have been fined, marking a notable achievement of fan-led legal action against online abuse.
According to legal sources, on January 6, the Busan District Prosecutor’s Office summarily charged a woman identified as A in October last year on charges of insulting, seeking a fine of 700,000 won. The court’s ruling has yet to be finalized.
A is accused of maliciously editing photos of NewJeans members and spreading false information on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
In a separate case, the Seobu Branch of the Daegu District Court issued a summary order of 200,000 won against a man identified as B, who had persistently left hateful comments against NewJeans on the online community FM Korea.
These rulings followed an announcement made in 2024 by Team Bunnies, a fan group representing NewJeans, saying they would pursue criminal charges against individuals responsible for defamation, spreading false information, and publishing harmful content aimed at the group.
As a result of these third-party complaints filed by fans, a total of 44 people accused of posting harmful comments about NewJeans were referred to prosecutors without detention between September and December last year.
Legal experts note that fan reports of harmful online behavior toward celebrities are becoming increasingly common.
Lawyer Kim Tae-yeon, head of Taeyeon Law Firm, explained: “In the past, artist protection was largely seen as an agency responsibility. Nowadays, fandoms are taking an active role in filing complaints.” He added that cases of insult or defamation require the victim’s consent to proceed, but underlined this “The legal procedures are the same whether the complaint is filed directly by the artist or through a third party, and the conviction is not affected.”
Meanwhile, NewJeans recently settled a legal dispute with its agency ADOR over the validity of its exclusivity contracts. Following the court’s decision, members Haerin, Hyein and Hanni were confirmed to return to activities, while discussions are reportedly ongoing regarding Minji’s return.
ADOR notified Danielle of the termination of her exclusivity contract, stating that it would be difficult to continue working with her as a member of NewJeans and as an agency artist.
The recent fines signal a growing shift towards accountability for online harassment, underscoring the growing role of fandoms in countering harmful behavior in the digital space.
Sources: News1
