▲ aespa
SM Entertainment, the agency representing the group aespa, announced that an individual identified as 'A,' who was indicted for creating and distributing deepfake content featuring members Karina and Winter, has been sentenced to two years and six months in prison.
The Daegu High Court's 1st Criminal Division handed down the prison sentence, along with an order for 80 hours of sexual violence treatment programs and a seven-year restriction on employment at institutions related to children and adolescents.
In response, SM stated that it will continue to take a strong, zero-tolerance approach toward any criminal acts that infringe upon the rights and interests of its artists.
The agency further explained that it has collected thousands of pieces of evidence, including malicious posts and comments from various online communities and social media platforms, through reports from fans and internal monitoring. Based on this evidence, they have filed criminal complaints with investigative authorities, and investigations are currently underway regarding several identified suspects.
SM stated that it is continuously collecting evidence regarding the creation of malicious rumors, repeated distribution of false information, posting of sexually harassing content, and the production and distribution of insulting or distorted content related to aespa. The agency plans to gradually expand its legal actions following a thorough review of the evidence.
Since the release of their second full-length album, "LEMONADE," at the end of last month, aespa has been demonstrating a significant presence on both domestic and international charts, including the Billboard 200 and Artist 100.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.