Agency of Seventeen takes strong legal action against malicious posts and ticket scalpers... First trial results in fines and imprisonment sentences

Seventeen’s agency, Pledis Entertainment, is continuing measures to protect the rights of the artists along with legal actions against ticket scalpers. On September 28, Pledis Entertainment announced through Seventeen’s official account that they are continuously taking legal action against malicious acts such as spreading false information, insults, and sexual slander against the artists. The agency stated that they have filed lawsuits against authors of malicious posts based on their own monitoring data and reports from fans, and that many cases are undergoing judicial procedures. A defendant charged with defamation of the artist was fined 2 million KRW in the first trial, and the defendant appealed the decision, with the appeal trial currently underway. The agency emphasized that they will respond strictly until the end in the appeal trial as well. Regarding illegal ticket transactions, Pledis Entertainment revealed that they have been cooperating with investigative agencies to catch and punish professional scalpers. Some recently arrested scalpers were sentenced to prison terms of 1 year and 8 months, and 1 year and 4 months respectively, along with confiscations totaling over 1 billion KRW. Investigations into overseas-based scalpers are ongoing, and the agency stated that they are actively cooperating with investigative agencies’ requests. They also conveyed their intention to continue responding strictly without leniency toward illegal ticket transactions. Regarding malicious posts related to Seventeen, the agency explained that they are collecting evidence of rights violations against the artists across domestic and international online channels using a real-time monitoring system. They stated that even if posts are deleted, it is possible to trace the authors and secure evidence. The agency added that they will respond strongly with a zero-tolerance policy toward acts such as spreading false information, insults, disparagement based on appearance or nationality, mocking and hateful expressions, sexual harassment, and sexual objectification. Meanwhile, Seventeen is currently on a temporary hiatus for military service. About half of the members are fulfilling their military duties, with Jeonghan having been discharged in September 2024. Wonwoo enlisted in April last year and is serving alternative military service, Woozi has been serving as an active-duty soldier in the army since September 15 last year, and Hoshi since September 16 last year. Vernon began alternative service on August 20, and Mingyu started alternative service on September 10. Dokyeom enlisted as an active-duty soldier in the army on September 8, and Seungkwan and Dino are scheduled to enlist in the army band on October 26. Before the military hiatus began, the Seventeen members signed their second contract renewal with Pledis Entertainment. The members said, ″We are happy to share good news with CARATs. With the belief that there is nothing we cannot achieve together as members and the shared desire to go further as a team, all 13 of us have decided to stay together. We ask our fans to join us in our promise to challenge eternity as members of ’TEAM SVT.’″ While group activities are temporarily paused, the members are continuing solo and unit activities. Jeonghan and Joshua will release their first mini-album as the new unit JeonghanXJoshua, titled ’DREAMSCAPE,’ on October 19, and Jun will release his first EP ’9’ in China on September 28.