Woman accused of defaming IU pleads for leniency, citing mental illness.

A woman in her 30s accused of posting malicious comments about singer and actress IU has pleaded for leniency, claiming she suffers from a mental illness that affects her writing abilities.

According to reports on November 26th KST, the Seoul Central District Court recently held a sentencing hearing for Kim (39), who is charged with defamation. Prosecutors have requested a four-month prison sentence.

Kim is accused of posting four derogatory comments about IU’s outfits and singing abilities on April 10th, 2022. In her defense, Kim argued, “I was merely expressing personal preferences. I have a mental illness that impacts my writing skills, and I ask for leniency.”

The first trial’s verdict is scheduled for December 3rd.

Meanwhile, IU has maintained a strong stance against malicious commenters since 2013, continuing to take firm legal action against defamatory posts and comments.

On November 11th, her agency, EDAM Entertainment, stated, “We are pursuing legal action against threats, defamation, the spread of malicious falsehoods, baseless plagiarism accusations, death threats, privacy violations, sexual harassment, distribution of obscene materials, and the creation and dissemination of illegal deepfake content.”

The agency revealed that as of now, approximately 180 individuals have been reported, with additional lawsuits ongoing. They also shared the outcomes of some cases: six individuals were fined, three received conditional indictments with mandatory education, and one was conditionally indicted with probation and guidance at a juvenile facility.

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