In the ongoing defamation case involving IVE's Jang Wonyoung, the YouTuber behind the channel 'De-altus Facility' claimed there was no intentional harm, despite making significant profits from the videos.

According to News1, the first court session for A, the operator of 'De-altus Facility', took place on the 2nd at the Seoul Eastern District Court.

A faces charges including defamation under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection. Judge Kim Saetbyeol of the 11th Criminal Division presided over the case.

A appeared in court with long hair, glasses, and a mask, making it difficult to recognize them, as seen in previous appearances.

A’s lawyer admitted that the videos were posted but insisted there was no intentional defamation. "The videos are merely expressions of opinion, so there is no factual defamation," the lawyer stated. They also argued that even if defamation were acknowledged, there was no intention behind it.

'De-altus Facility', run by A, has been spreading malicious rumors about famous idols, including plastic surgery and romantic relationships, since 2021. At the time, the channel had around 60,000 subscribers and made about 10 million won per month, totaling 250 million won in revenue.

Jang Wonyoung of IVE was one of the major victims of these rumors. Despite enduring the harmful videos, she, along with Kang Daniel and BTS, decided to take legal action.

Starship Entertainment, Jang Wonyoung's agency, filed a lawsuit against A in July of last year, seeking 100 million won in damages.

The court partially ruled in favor of Jang Wonyoung in October, but A appealed and requested a stay of enforcement.

Kang Daniel also took legal action against A for defamation. During a court hearing, A defended their actions by saying, "What do you think?" and argued that the videos were meant to address viewers' curiosity and serve the public interest. "It is necessary to inform the public if someone beloved by the public associates with individuals who display socially undesirable behavior," A claimed.

Source [1]

BTS member Jimin made history at the 2024 MAMA AWARDS, becoming the first solo artist ever to win the prestigious Visa Fan’s Choice of the Year award.

On November 22, Jimin was honored with the Fan’s Choice of the Year award at the 2024 MAMA AWARDS JAPAN, held at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan. This marks a huge milestone in his career, especially considering his ongoing military service.

Jimin made history as the first solo artist to win the Fan’s Choice of the Year award, a category that BTS had dominated for six years since its debut in 2018.

In addition to this achievement, Jimin also took home the Fan’s Choice Grand Prize, making him a two-time winner at this year’s awards.

Although Jimin couldn't attend the ceremony due to his military service, his name was met with loud cheers from fans when announced.

His incredible win continues to prove his global influence as a solo artist. Jimin had also won Best Male Artist at the 2023 MAMA AWARDS, marking back-to-back wins at the event.

The MAMA AWARDS praised Jimin for his groundbreaking achievements, saying, “As the first K-pop solo artist to reach 4 billion streams and set the longest-running #1 record for a Korean artist, Jimin has proven his influence as a world-class artist and global pop star.”

Jimin's win also made him the first solo artist to claim a grand prize at the MAMA AWARDS in 10 years, with his achievement sparking excitement worldwide.

On X (formerly Twitter), the hashtag “CONGRATULATIONS JIMIN” topped the trends, while “우리지민이상받았네” (Our Jimin Got the Award) reached the #1 spot in Korea.

Jimin’s ongoing success continues to shine even during his military service. He was also recently named Best K-pop at the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards and continues to be recognized for his charitable efforts, including a recent donation of 100 million KRW to the National Defense Soldier and Veteran Love Fund.

Source: [1]