As actor Kim Soo Hyun‘s agency, Gold Medalist, announced additional legal action against the online dissemination of false information and defamation, public attention is focused on the severity of punishment and potential settlement amounts for malicious commenters.
On October 23, a video regarding Gold Medalist’s legal response was released on the YouTube channel Law Firm Daehan Joongang TV, which has 30,000 subscribers. Mentioning Gold Medalist’s legal strategy, representatives from Daehan Joongang explained the penalty levels and settlement amounts associated with malicious comments.
A representative from Daehan Joongang stated, “In cases where celebrities file mass lawsuits against malicious commenters, prison sentences are rare, and most end with fines ranging from several hundred thousand to several million KRW. If a settlement is reached or if there are clear mitigating circumstances, a suspension of prosecution may be granted.”
The representative continued, “A few years ago, fines of a few hundred thousand KRW were common, but nowadays fines often exceed 1 million KRW. In severe cases, prison sentences are even handed down.”
Regarding scenarios where penalties become harsher, they emphasized, “Defamation by stating false facts is treated far more severely than simple insult or defamation by stating true facts. The key factors are repetition and the sheer volume of posts. Persistently leaving malicious comments across hundreds of posts will inevitably lead to harsher punishment.”
They added, “If sexual comments or threats are involved, the charges may not stop at defamation or insult. Depending on specific circumstances, charges such as sexual harassment via digital media or intimidation may apply, significantly increasing the severity of the penalty.”
Regarding settlement amounts, they noted, “Settlements are typically decided within the range of 1 million to 3 million KRW. However, if sexual or threatening comments were left, or if a large volume of malicious posts was made over an extended period, the settlement amount can be substantially higher.”
