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.

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BTS's Jin continues to shine bright with his massive popularity, securing the No. 1 spot in the MY1PICK weekly rankings for an impressive 43 consecutive weeks!

In the MY1PICK K-POP Individual Category Weekly Ranking for the third week of December (December 16–22), Jin earned a massive 6,154,905 hearts, keeping his position at the top. From the 5th week of February to the 3rd week of December, Jin has been unbeatable in the weekly rankings, proving he has an enormous fanbase and global influence.

But Jin’s achievements don’t stop there. In November, he dominated the K-POP Individual Category Monthly Ranking, topping it with 25,452,283 hearts. He has held the No. 1 spot for 11 months straight, from January to November, showing his continuous popularity throughout the year.

Jin also claimed victory in the One Pick Chart’s “November Monthly Chart K-POP (Solo)” category, holding the No. 1 position for 8 months in a row, from April to November. On top of that, he won the 2024 Season Chart K-POP (SOLO) for both the 2nd and 3rd quarters, making him the best One Pick star of the season.

The Season Chart awards honor artists who have consistently earned love from fans, with a physical trophy given to the top artist. Jin’s back-to-back victories solidify his place as one of the most beloved stars in K-pop.

Jin’s fan power doesn’t end with rankings. He’s also triumphed in numerous themed votes, taking first place in categories like “Star You Want to Collect All Photo Cards Of,” “Star You Want to See First Pitch at a Baseball Game,” “Best Cooking Genius Idol,” “Star Who Would Be the Best Child,” and “Star You Would Fall in Love With at First Sight.” His reward advertisement for the “Star You Want to Collect All Photo Cards Of” vote began airing on December 26 and can be seen at Yeoksam Station until December 30.

Meanwhile, Jin’s first solo album Happy was released on November 15 and quickly became a global hit, showcasing his talents as a solo artist. He held a special showcase, Jin ‘Happy’ Special Stage, on November 16 and 17, where fans were captivated by his beautiful vocals and flawless live performance.

Jin has also been keeping busy with appearances on popular variety shows like Salon Drip 2, Neighborhood Star K4, and Limousine Service. He’s also appeared on famous American talk shows, including The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and Japan’s top music program Venue 101, where he impressed fans with his humor and solid live performances. His reputation as the “Vocal King” and “Live King” is stronger than ever!

As if that wasn't enough, Jin is also gaining attention globally for singing the main theme song for the new tvN drama Ask the Stars. Jin's talents continue to wow the world, and it's clear he's not slowing down anytime soon!

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