Former Employee of FastView Charged in Malicious Content Case Against HYBE Artists

A former employee of FastView, a content startup accused of creating and distributing malicious reverse-viral content targeting artists under HYBE, has been referred to the prosecution, marking a significant outcome of HYBE's persistent legal efforts. The investigation is now shifting focus from whether the employee acted alone to uncovering the truth behind potential organized defamation activities.

On May 22, industry sources and law enforcement reported that the Seoul Suseo Police have recently sent an individual, referred to as A, to the prosecution on charges of defamation and insult under the Information and Communications Network Act. This action follows a complaint filed by HYBE last year, which claimed that videos posted on YouTube channels such as PeopleBox and DaIssue maliciously defamed the company and its artists.

HYBE has argued that the content in question was part of a deliberate effort to undermine specific companies and artists through reverse-viral tactics. Many of the controversial videos included unverified and provocative claims, such as an ILY:1 member mentioning specific foods to disparage a NewJeans member, as well as false allegations linking HYBE and its artists, including LE SSERAFIM and ILY:1, to certain religions, which distorted public opinion.

The referral of the former FastView employee to the prosecution suggests that the police found substantial evidence of criminal activity on the part of FastView.

A key point of interest in this case is whether A independently planned and executed these defamatory videos. FastView, established in 2015, operates multiple YouTube channels and online platforms, including PeopleBox and DaIssue, and is considered a small to medium-sized enterprise.

If A's actions were carried out under the direction or tacit approval of the company, it could indicate that the creation of defamatory content was not merely an individual transgression but part of a broader, organized effort targeting specific artists. The industry is keenly watching to see if the prosecution will clarify whether A acted independently or followed company directives, and if so, what motivated the creation of such disparaging content.

This referral to the prosecution represents a significant milestone in HYBE's ongoing legal battle against malicious online content. In addition to criminal complaints, HYBE and its affiliated labels, Belift Lab and Source Music, have been applying pressure on FastView through civil lawsuits.

In August of last year, they filed a civil suit seeking 280 million KRW in damages against FastView's YouTube channels, among others. In September, they even requested a subpoena in the Northern District Court of California to identify the operators of the YouTube channels, demonstrating their commitment to pursuing legal action both domestically and internationally.

With this referral, HYBE's investigation into reverse-viral content has made clear progress, and there is hope that the prosecution will reveal whether there was any organized involvement, potentially setting a precedent for strong penalties against the production and distribution of malicious online content.