Internet bully targeting IU fined 3 million won

Singer and actor IU [EDAM ENTERTAINMNET]

A malicious commenter targeting singer and actor IU has been ordered to pay a 3 million won ($2,300) fine by the court, according to IU's agency EDAM Entertainment on Tuesday.

In a post on the agency's social media, EDAM said that it is currently in the process of taking legal action against online hate comments for defamation, the spread of false information and personal attacks on the artist.

"We have been collecting proof from various anonymous online communities since last year," read the post.

It said that in this process, it was able to gather information about a malicious commenter and found evidence of crimes as well, which EDAM submitted to the respective investigative agency. During investigations, the commenter pleaded guilty to all the charges, said EDAM, and was charged a fine of 3 million won for breaking various laws under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Projection.

"We will continue to take strict measures against malicious behavior toward our artists, as they will be met with legal consequences. Through this post, we make it clear that there will be no leniency to malicious comments […] We promise to do our best until all malicious comments are eradicated."

BY LEE JIAN [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]