IVE's Jang Wonyoung and her agency, Starship Entertainment, are currently embroiled in a legal dispute with a YouTube channel known as 'Sojang', which they've identified as a purveyor of fake news. They've now scheduled a mediation session for May.

The Seoul Central District Court is set to oversee the mediation proceedings on May 17th. This is part of the lawsuit where Jang Wonyoung is seeking damages of 100 million won from Ms. A, the person behind 'Sojang'.

Previously, the court decided to refer the case for mediation. This is a process where both parties attempt to reach a mutual agreement to resolve the lawsuit. If an agreement is reached, the lawsuit concludes. However, both Jang Wonyoung and Starship Entertainment have made it clear that their position remains firm.

Starship Entertainment has been outspoken about their ongoing legal battles against 'Sojang'. They allege that the channel has continuously harassed their artists and spread false information, causing significant harm to the artists and their fans. They're committed to holding the channel accountable through their ongoing lawsuits.

Jang Wonyoung's lawyer, Jeong Gyeong Seok, has downplayed the significance of the court's decision to refer the case for mediation. He stated that their primary focus is on securing compensation from the defendant. He also mentioned that there has been no contact with the other party yet, but discussions might occur during the mediation.

In May 2023, Starship Entertainment received an order from the US District Court for the Northern District of California to provide information. This month, they obtained significant information about the operator of 'Sojang' from Google's US headquarters. They've expressed their strong intention to take legal action against 'Sojang' with Google's cooperation.

Starship Entertainment managed to secure a partial victory for Jang Wonyoung in October 2023 without any argument or judgment announcement from the court. However, Ms. A is currently trying to avoid paying compensation by appealing against the judgment, applying for a stay of enforcement of the lawsuit result, and even depositing 100 million won.

During the second hearing of the lawsuit at the Seoul Central District Court, Jang Wonyoung's lawyer argued that it's not clear what proportion of the total profit made by Ms. A's defamation or business interference is. He mentioned that it might be possible to distinguish it, but Ms. A deleted the account, so only the total profit is known.

Source[1]

NewJeans' Minji touched fans' hearts with a handwritten letter on her birthday — even while the group is currently unable to promote due to legal issues.

On May 7, Minji celebrated her birthday by sharing a heartfelt message on the group’s personal SNS account, which the members opened themselves to stay connected with fans.

Minji began her letter with honesty, writing, “I think I’m living a busier life than I expected. When I finally looked up, it was already May, and it was my birthday.”

She admitted that she had a lot she wanted to say, but her thoughts felt “messy.” Still, her message to fans was clear, “I just hope that I, our members, and Bunnies can all be happy. Happiness is the biggest goal in my life.”

Minji then opened up about her personal journey and struggles, saying, “I sometimes think that running toward my happiness by doing what I love might look foolish to others. But isn’t giving up your happiness now for the sake of a future that might not even come… too harsh on yourself?”

Despite everything, she ended on a hopeful note, “I really miss the times when we shared our feelings through the good music we made together. But I always look forward to what’s ahead."

She added, "We didn’t stop here, and we’re not going to stop! It might look like we’re standing still, but I believe we’re growing deeper.”

Her message comes during a difficult time for NewJeans. The group announced last year that they were cutting ties with ADOR, their original agency, after trust was broken. They later began working independently under the new name ‘NJZ’.

However, ADOR responded with legal action — claiming the exclusive contract with NewJeans was still valid and asking the court to stop the group from promoting or signing deals.

The court sided with ADOR and granted an injunction, forcing NewJeans to pause their activities. Their appeal was rejected, and they’ve now filed a second appeal.

Through it all, Minji’s message proves one thing — even when forced to stop, NewJeans' hearts are still moving forward.

Source: [1]