Latest news with #UijeongbuDistrictCourt
Pink Villa
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
BLACKPINK's Jennie wins defamation lawsuit against fake father, here's how Korean man made claims in unverified book
BLACKPINK's Jennie has won a major legal battle to protect her personal identity and reputation. A South Korean court ruled decisively in her favor after a man (referred to as 'A') falsely claimed to be her biological father. He went on to publish an AI-generated novel exploiting that lie. Court declares claims false On May 9, 2025, the Uijeongbu District Court's Goyang Branch issued its official verdict. The court stated, 'There is no supporting evidence for the defendant's claim aside from his own statements.' The defendant didn't offer any documentary evidence, DNA tests, or legal or biological link to Jennie. Meanwhile, Jennie 's family registry, an official government document, clearly listed a different individual as her father. 'It is therefore reasonable to conclude that the defendant's claim is untrue,' the court stated in its ruling. It also acknowledged the harm done to Jennie's reputation. They cite the spread of misleading content and false rumors as damaging. As a result, the court ordered all existing copies of the book to be removed from circulation and destroyed. Additionally, the defendant was prohibited from making any references to Jennie in future books, on messaging apps like KakaoTalk, in interviews, or on social media. Though the ruling sided firmly with Jennie, the court did not impose a financial fine or allow provisional enforcement. They noted that the case did not involve a direct property dispute or monetary claim. However, the defendants were ordered to bear the full cost of legal proceedings. Fabricated paternity sparks legal war The controversy began quietly but escalated quickly when A self-published a book prominently featuring Jennie's name and even her logo. The prologue went as far as to state that Jennie was the author's biological daughter. The novel, though artificial in both design and storytelling, has been generated using AI. It circulated among certain online communities. It led to widespread speculation about Jennie's upbringing, her family's supposed wealth, and unfounded stories. Jennie, known for being private about her personal life, especially when it comes to her family, took the matter seriously. In September 2024, her agency, OA Entertainment, issued a public statement revealing that they would be pursuing legal action. Agency files lawsuit against author Three months later, in December 2024, OA Entertainment followed through with its promise. They filed a formal injunction at the Uijeongbu District Court Goyang Branch. The lawsuit named both the man behind the false claims and his affiliated publishing company as co-defendants. The aim of the lawsuit was not only to prohibit further distribution of the publication. It was also to impose legal restrictions on the defendant's ability to speak about Jennie in the future.
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Time of India
The offender who posted derogatory content against the virtual group PLAVE was fined; told to pay 100,000 KRW to each member. Find out more
An individual who shared degrading comments online on social media platforms against the virtual boy group PLAVE has been instructed by the court to pay a hefty amount for the damages that they caused due to the comments. Court rules in favour of PLAVE, malicious content poster to pay hefty fine In the court ruling last month, according to Allkpop, Judge Jang Yoo Jin of the Uijeongbu District Court fined the person who had shared malicious content against PLAVE with a hefty fine. He stated in court that the fine was viable as "The use of avatars in the age of the metaverse may be considered another means for users of technology to express themselves and communicate with others. In that sense, insulting the avatars may be seen as equivalent to insulting the actual user behind the avatar. " The judge ruled in the hearing that every member of the group is going to be paid 100,000 KRW each by the offender as a damages fee. What happened? The offender, who has not been named, took to their social media accounts and shared derogatory and malicious content against the members of the virtual boy group as well as the people behind these avatars. The incident occurred in July last year, and since then, the agency of the boy group has filed a lawsuit against the offender. At the time of the first court hearing, the offender made their statement by saying that the comments were not targeted towards real people and could not be used for prosecution against them. They shared that the comments "were not directed at the real-life individuals behind the virtual characters; therefore, they cannot be considered accounts of offence." This claim, however, was dismissed and refuted by the judge, who stated in court that "An individual can still be offended even when their real names or any specific names referring to that individual or group are not used. Furthermore, if others can identify the individual based on context, it must be seen as an account of offence against that specific individual." The judge then put in his final concluding statement in the court hearing, stating that If the identity of the avatar user is widely known or public information, accounts of offence committed against the avatar must be seen as equivalent to accounts of offence committed against the real-life user. In the case of PLAVE, regardless of the agency's current stance or policies, the real-life identities of the members have become information readily available to the masses. When considering the fact that 'B' also committed the offenses in question with that information in mind, it must be concluded that 'B' specifically targeted the plaintiffs."
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Kim Sae Ron listed as creditor in father's bankruptcy while carrying $900,000 debt — new details emerge amid Kim Soo Hyun scandal
Almost four months after Kim Sae Ron's heartbreaking death, new reports are shedding light on the financial struggles she faced as the sole breadwinner for her family. These revelations come just as dating rumours linking her to actor Kim Soo Hyun have resurfaced, sparking widespread speculations about her past. Kim Sae Ron was listed as a creditor in her father's bankruptcy According to court filings, as reported by multiple K-media outlets, Kim Sae Ron was registered as a creditor in her father's personal bankruptcy case. She was owed over 250 million KRW (180,000 USD)—money she had used to repay her father's debts after he defaulted on loans from more than 20 creditors. Her father, identified only as 'A,' filed for bankruptcy in December 2020 and was officially discharged by the Uijeongbu District Court in March 2023. Kim was just 20 years old when the bankruptcy was finalized. Failed restaurant investment added to financial burden After her father's bankruptcy, Kim tried to help her family bounce back. In May 2021, she reportedly invested in a family-run restaurant, registering it under a friend's name. She poured financial resources into the business and promoted it using her entertainment industry contacts. But despite her efforts, the restaurant shut down in 2024 due to unpaid rent and operational fees, causing her to lose even more, including the security deposit. The DUI incident that changed everything In 2022, Kim was involved in a drunk driving incident, crashing into a transformer in Seoul. The case quickly spiralled into a public controversy. More than just a reputational hit, the crash reportedly impacted multiple nearby businesses, leading to civil compensation claims and a wave of legal expenses. During her DUI trial in 2023, her legal team stated that Kim had been the family's sole breadwinner, citing ongoing financial strain. They described her as taking on significant monetary responsibilities for herself and her relatives. Over 1.2 billion KRW in confirmed debt Reports from Money Today, bnt News, and allkpop detail the extent of the former child actress' financial struggles, with public records showing her confirmed liabilities totalled over KRW 1.2 billion (around USD 900,000). This included KRW 100 million each borrowed from two idols and one singer friend, a KRW 60 million loan from her agency to cover medical expenses, and a massive KRW 700 million owed to her former agency, Gold Medalist, as repayment for pre-paid breach-of-contract penalties following her 2022 DUI incident. Despite the staggering total, it remains unclear how exactly these funds were used—whether for personal needs, legal fees, or to support her family. Family disputes posthumous claim In April 2025, a month after Kim's death, her family's legal team released a statement denying the narrative that she had been the family's sole provider. They dismissed the reports of financial mismanagement and wealth being squandered as 'unworthy of attention.' Still, the court filings and business records tell a different story—one where Kim appeared to be taking on a role far heavier than her age. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
Korea Herald
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Where's Huh Kyung-young? The eccentric, serial presidential candidate who once vowed to levitate lands in jail
Three-time presidential candidate detained on suspicion of financial and sexual wrongdoing Huh Kyung-young, a wacky politician who ran for South Korean presidency three times with outlandish pledges like giving 100 million won ($71,467) to every citizen, is back in the news, not as a candidate running for the June 3 election but as a criminal suspect. The 77-year-old, who holds the official title of honorary leader of the National Revolutionary Party, has been behind bars since Saturday after the Uijeongbu District Court issued a warrant for his detention on charges of fraud, violations of the Political Funds Act and coerced sexual misconduct. Having run in the 15th, 17th and 20th presidential elections and losing each time, he is widely known for making bizarre campaign promises, such as building a runway for UFOs, raising Koreans' IQ to 430 and offering tax breaks for bald people. Though widely dismissed as unrealistic and absurd, his proposals created enough buzz to be parodied on many entertainment shows. Huh is accused of using his religious facility, known as 'Haneulgung,' to sell goods at exorbitant prices. At Haneulgung, a group of his followers revere him as a spiritual leader and hold lectures and prayer sessions to promote his beliefs. Huh is also accused of sexual misconduct for touching his female followers inappropriately during what he described as spiritual counseling sessions. During a yearlong investigation, police questioned him more than 30 times and searched his facility, but he continued to refuse to cooperate and filed complaints against investigators. This led the court to grant an arrest warrant over concerns that he might destroy evidence. Can Huh run again? His recent arrest has raised questions among some online users about whether he could still run for the June 3 presidential election. 'No Huh Kyung-young this election? That feels unusual," a user wrote on X. 'Can someone in custody not run for office? I was actually looking forward to his crazy pledges," read another post. The answer is no. At this point, no one can throw their hat into the ring — the official candidacy registration period closed on May 11. As for the ongoing investigation into Huh, that does not, in itself, disqualify him from running for public office. Though this is ultimately irrelevant, as he is already barred due to a conviction last year. Article 18 of the Public Official Election Act stipulates that candidates are disqualified only after a conviction resulting in a prison sentence or a heavier penalty is finalized. Huh, in April 2024, was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for three years, for spreading false information. As a result, he is barred from running in elections until April 2034. Among the groundless claims he made were that he was the adopted son of the late Lee Byung-chull, founder of the tech giant Samsung, and that he had served as a policy advisor to former President Park Chung-hee. This was not the first time Huh was prohibited from running for office for spreading false information. During the 2007 presidential election, he promised to marry former President Park Geun-hye if elected. At that time, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison and barred from candidacy for a decade. He returned to politics in 2020. Meanwhile, Huh, currently held at the Uijeongbu Police Station, was taken to a hospital early Monday morning after reporting sudden abdominal pain. However, he was returned to the detention center after doctors found no health issues, according to police. cjh@
Korea Herald
11-04-2025
- Korea Herald
Taekwondo instructor jailed for 30 years for death of 5-year-old
A South Korean court sentenced a taekwondo instructor to 30 years in prison for the abuse of a 5-year-old boy at his center that caused the child's death. On Thursday, the Uijeongbu District Court handed down the sentence to the instructor, a man in his 30s, who was convicted of child abuse resulting in death. The court also ordered him to complete 40 hours of child abuse treatment programs and barred him from working at children or youth-related institutions for 10 years. According to the verdict, the instructor placed the child upside down in rolled-up floor mats and left him in that position for 27 minutes, at his martial arts school in Yangju, Gyeonggi. 'The defendant was aware of the risk that the child might die but failed to act,' the court said. 'He also habitually abused more than 20 other children over a sustained period and dismissed his actions as mere play, casting doubt on the sincerity of his remorse.' In addition to denying responsibility, the defendant reportedly attempted to shift blame to another instructor and deleted CCTV footage to destroy evidence. The court deemed his behavior as not only abusive but also indicative of a serious attempt at concealment and obstruction of justice. While prosecutors had sought a life sentence, the court opted for a fixed 30-year term. Investigations revealed that the defendant had committed 124 instances of physical and emotional abuse against 26 children at the taekwondo school, including pinching cheeks and striking students.
