HYBE Initiates Multiple Lawsuits Against Malicious YouTubers Targeting LE SSERAFIM and ILLIT

On Friday, September 20, the Korean media outlet News1 reported that HYBE Labels has initiated mass lawsuits against several malicious YouTubers targeting the popular K-pop girl groups LE SSERAFIM and ILLIT. The article detailed that a total of eight lawsuits have been filed against seven individual YouTubers.

The legal actions were submitted through the Seoul Western District Court and include charges such as cyber defamation and the dissemination of false information regarding LE SSERAFIM and ILLIT. Among the YouTubers named in these lawsuits are 엔터픽 (Enterpick), 왕잼이슈 (Very Interesting Issue), 이슈쓱 (Issue Sseuk), 피플박스 (People Box), and 다잇슈 (Daitsh).

The alleged offenders have supposedly been persistently spreading misleading information about both groups. They have also accused LE SSERAFIM and ILLIT of plagiarizing songs from other artists. Furthermore, some of the assertions indicated that LE SSERAFIM was linked to certain religious groups and purportedly exhibited pro-Japanese sentiments.

Consequently, HYBE Labels and its subsidiary, which manages LE SSERAFIM, have opted for legal recourse. In the report by News1, they underscored the false and baseless nature of the claims and accusations propagated by these YouTube channels.

Essential Information on HYBE Labels’ Lawsuit Against Malicious YouTubers Targeting LE SSERAFIM and ILLIT

In addition to the lawsuits, HYBE Labels has sought assistance from a federal court in the United States to uncover the identities of the implicated YouTubers. Their petition to the court requests Google, the parent company of YouTube, to provide the identities of those behind the channels named in the lawsuits.

This course of action was taken in the US rather than South Korea, as Korean courts lack jurisdiction over Google. The legal team representing HYBE discussed the offenses committed by the YouTubers, stating:

“Among other things, statements in these videos falsely accuse [HYBE and its label Belift Lab] and ILLIT of plagiarizing content from other artists, including a female K-pop group called NewJeans.”

Moreover, the HYBE attorneys pointed out that the YouTubers also alleged that LE SSERAFIM attempted to disguise or fake their vocal abilities during live performances. As a result, the request to disclose the YouTubers’ identities was filed with the US District Court for the Northern District of California on Monday, September 9.

A similar instance occurred in May 2024 when HYBE Labels filed a complaint with the Seoul Yongsan Police Department against a user named @guiltyarchive for their alleged defaming actions toward BTS and LE SSERAFIM. Following this, in July 2024, HYBE again sought the US District Court for the Northern District of California to reveal the identity of @guiltyarchive.

This complaint arose as @guiltyarchive claimed that LE SSERAFIM was responsible for the disbandment of GFRIEND and made various slanderous remarks about BTS. The account had even connected BTS to a cult organization. However, the court ultimately did not approve HYBE’s request.

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