Kim Da Hyun, a 16-year-old South Korean trot singer who rose to fame through talent shows like 'Miss Trot 2,' has been the target of online abuse from an older internet user—who has now been sentenced to a suspended prison term.

According to legal sources on April 21(KST), the Daegu District Court’s 6th Criminal Division sentenced a 58-year-old man (referred to as Mr. A) to 4 months in prison, suspended for 2 years, on charges of defamation through insult.

Mr. A was indicted for posting a total of 73 defamatory comments about Kim Da Hyun and 67 about her father, Kim Bong Gon, on a broadcaster’s online viewer forum between July and November 2023.

The court stated in its ruling, “Given the nature and number of the posts, it is clear that the victims—particularly Kim Da Hyun, who is still very young—suffered a significant level of emotional distress. The defendant’s actions are highly blameworthy.”

Kim Da Hyun’s legal representative, Kim Kyung Eun of Inui Law Firm, commented, “Public figures are also entitled to protection of their personal rights. When the target is a young celebrity and her family, the harm is even greater.” 

She added, “Freedom of expression must not be used to harm others. We hope this ruling helps put an end to the kind of malicious posts that leave lasting scars on specific individuals in the entertainment industry.”

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