ENHYPEN agency takes legal action against stalkers, online abusers

ENHYPEN’s agency vows tough legal action against stalking and malicious comments. Courtesy of Belift Lab

K-pop boy band ENHYPEN’s agency has vowed to take strong legal action against stalkers, malicious commenters and those violating the members’ privacy, citing escalating threats to their safety and wellbeing.

Belift Lab issued a public statement via fan platform Weverse on Sunday, detailing ongoing legal proceedings and investigations related to repeated invasions of privacy and defamation.

“Despite multiple warnings to stop invading the artists’ private lives, such behavior has not only persisted but become more severe,” the agency said. “The psychological and physical harm inflicted on the members has reached an intolerable level. We will respond with all possible legal measures.”

According to the agency, a recent incident involved intruders unlawfully entering the members’ residence and secretly filming them.

Belift Lab said the individuals were caught in the act and reported to police on charges of trespassing and violating Korea’s anti-stalking laws.

“They were apprehended on the spot and are currently under police investigation,” the agency said, adding that it is cooperating fully with authorities to ensure the offenders are held accountable.

Belift Lab also revealed that it had detected multiple online posts attempting to sell illegally obtained or fabricated personal information about the ENHYPEN members.

“We have reported accounts selling private data to Chinese authorities and will continue taking aggressive legal action,” it said.

The agency warned that repeated attempts to contact the artists, obtain their personal information, or follow them to private locations not only violate their privacy but constitute a serious crime.

ID fabrication

In addition, the company is pursuing defamation suits against individuals posting slanderous or sexually harassing content about the group.

“With help from fans and our internal monitoring system, we have collected evidence of malicious comments and posts, including insults, sexual harassment, and the spread of falsehoods,” Belift Lab said. “We have submitted formal complaints to the authorities and will continue taking legal action on a regular basis.”

The agency is also cracking down on fraudulent participation in fan events. “Recently, there has been an increase in the use of forged IDs or impersonation to enter fan events,” it said. “Such acts are unfair and harm other fans. Perpetrators, including both the borrower and the lender of an identity, will be banned from future events and may face criminal charges.”

Belift Lab emphasized its zero-tolerance stance. “We will pursue all cases to the end without any settlements or leniency, regardless of the nationality of the offender.”

The agency reiterated its commitment to protecting ENHYPEN’s rights and ensuring a safe environment for the group.

ENHYPEN debuted in 2020 and has quickly risen to become one of the leading K-pop acts of the fourth generation, amassing a large international fan base.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.