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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Actress Lim Ji Yeon is finally opening up about the unexpected backlash she received after showing support for actor Jung Woo Sung during his controversial return to the public eye.

In an interview on January 23rd, following the end of her drama The Tale of Lady Ok, Lim Ji Yeon spoke candidly about the situation that caused a stir at the 45th Blue Dragon Film Awards in November last year.

At the event, Jung Woo Sung made his public return after facing controversy surrounding an “illegitimate child” with model Moon Ga Bi. While Jung Woo Sung took the stage to apologize, Lim Ji Yeon was seen clapping and cheering for him.

Reflecting on that moment, Lim Ji Yeon shared, "It was a brief moment, so it’s hard to say whether it was right or wrong." She added, "I didn’t expect the public’s reaction. On the other hand, I was cautious since The Tale of Lady Ok was airing at the time."

For those who missed it, Jung Woo Sung and Moon Ga Bi, who had been in a relationship since 2022, revealed last year that they were expecting a child.

The actor took full responsibility for the situation and issued an apology during the awards ceremony, saying, "I’m sorry for causing concern and disappointment to everyone who has shown me love and support. I will bear all the criticism, and I promise to take full responsibility as a father to my son".

However, while Jung Woo Sung addressed the controversy, it was Lim Ji Yeon’s show of support that sparked controversy.

She cheered enthusiastically for Jung Woo Sung, while actress Hye Ri, who was seated next to her, kept a neutral, expressionless face. This led to a wave of criticism from some netizens who questioned Lim Ji Yeon’s reaction.

It’s worth noting that Lim Ji Yeon’s agency, Artist Company, was co-founded by Jung Woo Sung and actor Lee Jung Jae, both of whom currently serve as directors.

Could this connection have influenced Lim Ji Yeon’s public display of support? She’s still processing the response, and fans are curious to know how she’ll handle the fallout moving forward.

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