Members of popular K-pop groups like NewJeans, LE SSERAFIM, and IVE have been repeatedly harassed by false rumors on YouTube, targeting their personal lives and reputations. Despite numerous requests for police investigations, these cases have been consistently dropped, with no further action taken. Google Korea, which operates YouTube, has refused to provide the necessary information, citing that their servers are located overseas. When the issue was escalated to Google’s headquarters, they responded by suggesting the need for “international judicial assistance.” This forced the victims to pursue legal action in U.S. courts, where they were finally able to obtain the YouTubers’ identities by filing formal legal requests. However, this process took considerable time and resources as they navigated the U.S. legal system.
Foreign tech companies are increasingly seen as dismissive of South Korea’s legal and administrative systems, behaving as though they are above local law. For instance, Telegram has ignored more than 200 police requests for investigative data over the past 11 years. Companies like Google, Meta, and Netflix appoint local representatives in Korea, but these individuals often hold no real authority. When summoned to National Assembly hearings, they frequently deflect questions, claiming ignorance and the need to consult their headquarters. Meanwhile, when South Korea proposes regulations on these platforms, the companies push back by leveraging U.S. influence and economic pressure.
In 2021, IVE member Jang Won-young became the target of malicious content from the YouTube channel “Taldeok Camp,” known for spreading false rumors about celebrities. The channel falsely accused her of having an affair with a male celebrity, crashing a fashion show uninvited, being of Chinese descent, and being rude to others. These defamatory videos racked up over 160 million views. IVE’s agency decided to take legal action, hiring a lawyer to sue the operator of the channel. However, Google Korea refused to release any information on the YouTuber, citing server locations outside the country. Google’s headquarters further stated that they could only release the data through international cooperation or a U.S. court order. In May, the agency finally filed a request with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, which oversees Google. Only then was the YouTuber, a woman in her 30s named Park, identified. Park was later ordered to pay 100 million won (approximately $74,600) in damages and was charged with defamation and insult, with her first trial taking place earlier this month. Attorney Chong Kyong-sok, who handled the case, remarked that if Google Korea had been more cooperative, the trial could have progressed faster, minimizing the damage caused.
Jang Won-young’s case is not unique. NewJeans was also targeted by a YouTuber known as “@Middle7,” while LE SSERAFIM faced baseless accusations of plagiarism from another YouTube channel. Both groups also turned to U.S. courts to obtain the identities of these YouTubers after Google Korea refused to cooperate.
The handling of these cases has sparked widespread criticism of foreign tech giants for their apparent disregard of South Korea’s legal system. In contrast, domestic platforms like Naver and Kakao comply with local laws during criminal investigations. One attorney noted, “Foreign platforms have realized they face little consequence for non-compliance in Korea. Stronger penalties are needed to change this attitude.”
