The K-pop group NewJeans has won a lawsuit against a YouTuber accused of sexual harassment.
According to legal sources on the 11th, the Seoul Western District Court's Civil Division 13 (Judge Lee Ah-young) ruled partially in favor of NewJeans in a 100 million won damages lawsuit filed in June against YouTuber Shin. The court ordered Shin to pay 5 million won each to members Minji, Hanni, and Danielle, and 7 million won each to Haerin and Hyein.
Shin was accused of producing over 20 videos on two YouTube channels in April and May of last year that sexually harassed the NewJeans members, who are minors. He was also accused of posting malicious comments.
Meanwhile, on May 17, the Seoul High Court's Civil Division 25-2 (Presiding Judges Hwang Byung-ha, Jeong Jong-gwan, and Lee Kyun-yong) dismissed an appeal by the five NewJeans members against an injunction prohibiting independent activities. In April, the Seoul Central District Court's Civil Division 50 (Chief Judge Kim Sang-hoon) upheld an injunction filed by ADOR to maintain the agency's status and prohibit advertising contracts, rejecting the members' objections. As a result, NewJeans members cannot engage in entertainment activities or advertising contracts without ADOR's consent.
On April 29, the court also accepted ADOR's indirect compulsion application against NewJeans, ruling that if NewJeans engages in independent activities without ADOR's prior approval, they must pay 1 billion won per violation to ADOR.
The court has given ADOR and NewJeans time to reach an agreement before the ruling. The third hearing for the main lawsuit confirming the validity of NewJeans' exclusive contract with ADOR is scheduled for the 14th.
Reporter: Kim Ji-won, TenAsia one@tenasia.co.kr