Members of global K-pop sensation BTS, V (Kim Taehyung) and Jungkook (Jeon Jungkook), have secured a notable legal victory in their ongoing effort to protect their reputations online. In a recent ruling by the Seoul Western District Court’s Civil Appeals Division, the operator of a now-defunct YouTube channel was ordered to pay substantial damages for posting defamatory content about the two artists, marking another milestone in the battle against harmful online rumors and misinformation.

BTS V and Jungkook win the civil suit

On January 23, the appellate court ruled in favour of V and Jungkook in their civil suit against the owner of the YouTube channel known as Taldeoksooyongso. The channel had gained notoriety for publishing videos that spread false rumours and misleading content about celebrities, including the BTS members. The court found that this content had caused reputational harm, and adjusted the damages to reflect the extent of that impact.