A 30-year-old woman, known only as A, has been fined 3 million won after making defamatory comments about singer and actress IU.

On December 3, the Criminal Division 16 of the Seoul Central District Court sentenced A to pay a 3 million won fine after she was charged with defamation.

A was accused of posting four negative comments about IU in April 2022, criticizing IU’s statements, clothing, and singing abilities. The prosecution had initially requested a 4-month prison sentence for A.

A's defense lawyer acknowledged the allegations, confirming that A admitted to posting the comments but argued that they were just her opinions about a public figure, not meant to defame her. The defense insisted that the comments did not qualify as defamation.

In her final statement, A explained, "I suffer from mental illness, and my language skills have declined, which led to poorly written comments. I didn’t mean to hurt IU’s reputation. I was just expressing my personal preferences." She also expressed regret, saying, "I will be more careful with my words in the future when discussing public figures. Please consider this case fairly."

Before the verdict was given, A attended the hearing wearing a black coat. The court asked if she had come to an agreement with IU, but A confirmed that no agreement had been made.

The court concluded, "Looking at the overall context, the comments went beyond expressing an opinion and became an insulting and disrespectful attack. This is considered defamation, as per the Supreme Court’s ruling." The court also took into account A’s past criminal record related to defamation, which had previously led to a fine.

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BTS’s Jimin has just scored another major victory in his solo career, winning the prestigious 'International Male Artist of the Year' award at the 2024 Pure Chart Awards in France.

The award was presented during a digital ceremony hosted by the French radio station RPM and Pure Chart, a top music site that has been a major player in the French music scene for over 20 years. Jimin took home the top prize in the highly competitive category, beating out some of the biggest names in music, including U.S. hip-hop legend Kendrick Lamar and global sensation The Weeknd.

Not only did Jimin win, but he also did so in style, securing six times more votes than the runner-up. This massive victory further proves Jimin’s dominance not just in K-pop, but as a 21st-century pop icon.

Pure Chart highlighted Jimin’s success alongside Taylor Swift, calling them the “standout international artists” of the year.

Jimin’s victory at the Pure Chart Awards adds to his already impressive year. Earlier in 2024, he made history at the MAMA AWARDS JAPAN, becoming the first solo artist ever to win the 'Best Fans’ Choice of the Year' award and the 'Fans’ Choice Main Award.' He also snagged the ‘Best K-pop’ award at the MTV Europe Music Awards, proving once again that he is a global force in music.

Jimin’s solo album MUSE, released on July 19, continues to make waves across the world, even without promotions due to his military enlistment. His title track, “Who,” recently made headlines as it reached No. 47 on the Billboard Hot 100 as of December 14, marking an incredible 20 consecutive weeks on the chart and solidifying his status as one of the most influential solo artists in the world.

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