[Official full text] ”I am going through a very difficult time”... Singer BoA, agency SM announces that they are currently filing large-scale lawsuits in Korea and overseas

SM Entertainment (SM), to which singer BoA belongs, has announced that it will file a large-scale lawsuit.

　On the 11th, SM announced in an official press release that "Due to the continuous spread of false facts, malicious personal attacks, insults and slander against the artist mainly on many SNS, video-sharing platforms and online communities, a large-scale complaint is currently underway in South Korea and abroad". The company is currently pursuing a lawsuit against the artists.

They continued "We have already collected sufficient data on a large number of postings and are investigating and filing charges against specific cases such as cyber-wreckers" and added "We plan to hold them legally accountable to the end through continuous information gathering."

　The office added "The above-mentioned acts have reached such a serious level that they cannot be handled by a single person, and this has caused great emotional distress to the artists, who are going through a very hard time" and added "We have a policy to ensure that the relevant actors are legally punished without good measure or agreement. We would like you to be aware that all acts of malicious posting even at this very moment can be punished."

While doing so, "we make it clear that such acts are criminal offences that harm the honour and dignity of individuals, and we strictly warn that such actors may be vigorously punished according to the relevant laws and regulations, we sincerely ask you to suspend your senseless attacks on artists."

　Earlier, BoA had posted on her SNS implying her retirement, which worried her fans.

Below is the full text of the official comment from her agency

Hello, this is SM Entertainment.

We would like to inform you in relation to our artist BoA.

Due to the continuous occurrence of the spread of false facts, malicious personal attacks, insults and slander against the artist mainly on many social networking and video-sharing platforms and online communities, we have decided to request the legal advice of the Sejong Law Firm, which is in charge of legal actions regarding the violation of the rights of our artists, as well as other external legal advisors, to take additional action. In addition to the Sejong Legal Corporation, which is in charge of legal action in relation to infringements of the rights of our artists, we are also cooperating with external legal advisory bodies in pursuing large-scale complaints in South Korea and abroad.

Since the previous public announcement, we have already collected sufficient data on a number of postings and are currently investigating and prosecuting specific cases, including cyber-wreckers. Through sustained information gathering, we plan to pursue legal responsibility to the end.

The above behaviour has reached such a serious level that it has become unmanageable for a single person, and this has caused the artists a great deal of emotional distress and a very difficult time. We want you to be aware that it is our policy to ensure that any relevant actors are legally punished without good cause or consent, and that all acts of malicious posting can be punished at this very moment.

Once again, we make it clear that this is a criminal offence that is detrimental to the honour and dignity of the individual, and we give a stern warning that such actors may be strongly punished according to the relevant legislation. We sincerely ask you to suspend these senseless attacks against artists.

Thank you.