IU's Defamer Fined 3 Million Won for Malicious Comments

A woman in her 30s, identified as A, has been fined 3 million won by the Seoul Central District Court for posting malicious comments about singer IU (아이유). On December 3, 2024, Judge Lee Kyung-sun ruled against A, who was charged with defamation.

The case stemmed from four derogatory comments made by A in April 2022, criticizing IU's clothing and singing abilities. During the trial, prosecutors sought a four-month prison sentence for A.

A's defense argued that her comments were based on objective facts and only included some offensive language. They also claimed that A suffers from a mental illness, which affects her writing skills, and requested leniency. However, the court rejected this plea, stating that the language used was contextually insulting and constituted personal attacks.

Since 2013, IU has been actively combating online harassment, taking strong legal action against malicious posts and comments. To date, over 180 individuals have been reported, with several cases resulting in fines, educational programs, and probationary measures.