[Edaily Reporter Gim Ga Yeong ] Posts mentioning celebrities’ past behavior continue to appear on online communities and social media platforms (SNS), and as these posts affect the celebrities’ reputations, attention is turning to the legal liability involved.

Recently, allegations of school bullying involving Cha Ye-ryeon surfaced on online communities. A netizen identified as “A” claimed to have been bullied by actress “C” while in middle school, and “C” was subsequently identified as Cha Ye-ryeon.
While Cha Ye-ryeon’s agency stated that the allegations were “groundless,” eyewitness accounts related to her continued to surface. A netizen who identified themselves as a former golf course caddie claimed that Cha Ye-ryeon had behaved rudely in the past, while another netizen who claimed to have seen Cha Ye-ryeon at a beauty salon in Cheongdam-dong about 17 years ago alleged that she had snapped at the salon staff and even snatched the hair dryer to dry her own hair. These claims have not been verified.
In response, her agency stated, “We take the current situation—in which unverified claims and speculation made anonymously are repeatedly spreading, and criticism is even directed at the actress’s family—very seriously,” and announced legal action, adding, “We will thoroughly gather relevant evidence regarding the malicious dissemination of false information and personal attacks, and respond responsibly after legal review.”
Recently, Choi Woo-shik has also been embroiled in similar allegations. One netizen claimed that when Choi Woo-shik was on a flight, a flight attendant approached him to take his in-flight meal order, but he scowled and snapped at his manager, “Why aren’t you talking to me?” While the veracity of this claim remains unclear, netizens who saw the post reacted with comments such as, “I didn’t think Choi Woo-shik was like that—I’m disappointed.” As the story spread, his agency announced it would take legal action.
In addition, numerous sightings of celebrities are circulating through online communities and social media. Even when these accounts haven’t been verified, they spread as if they were true and significantly impact the celebrity’s reputation and image.
So, can posts written based on memories of past events lead to legal punishment? Kang Jin-seok, an attorney at ENT Law Firm, pointed out, “If such posts contain false information, they constitute defamation by false statements; even if they are true, they constitute defamation by disclosure of facts and can result in legal punishment.” He added, “However, the severity of punishment is often low compared to the harm suffered by the celebrity.” Attorney Kang said, “Since it takes a long time for actual punishment to be imposed and the damage caused by rumors is significant, an early response is crucial,” adding, “It is necessary to prevent the spread of rumors and make it clear that they are untrue through strong legal action.”
An official in the entertainment management industry noted, “The damage celebrities suffer from posts whose veracity hasn’t even been confirmed is enormous. They may be excluded from projects under discussion, or their advertising contract renewals may fall through.” They continued, “In contrast, the penalties are relatively lenient; I hope measures will be put in place to ensure stronger punishments are imposed,” and appealed, “I also hope that the public, when encountering such claims, will prioritize verifying the facts.”