Netizen Who Posted Malicious Comments About Virtual Idol Ordered to Pay 500,000 Won in Damages on Appeal

[Financial News] A netizen who posted malicious comments targeting the virtual idol group Plave has lost part of their appeal, following an initial court ruling ordering damages.
According to legal sources on the 6th, the Uijeongbu District Court Civil Division 5-3, presided over by Chief Judge Choi Ji-young, dismissed the plaintiffs’ appeal on the 27th of last month in a damages lawsuit filed by five real-life members who perform as Plave against netizen A.
Plave, a five-member virtual idol group that debuted in 2023, is unique in that its performances are carried out by human-like characters rather than actual people.
In July of last year, netizen A repeatedly posted comments on Social Networking Service (SNS) mocking the appearance of Plave members and ridiculing the real individuals behind the characters.
In response, Plave claimed that all five members’ real names and identities had been violated and sought 32.5 million won in damages.
Netizen A argued that since the characters are not real people and their identities are undisclosed, there is no equivalence between the virtual characters and the plaintiffs.
However, the court of first instance partially sided with the plaintiffs, ordering netizen A to pay 100,000 won to each of the five members, totaling 500,000 won.
The court explained its reasoning, stating, "In the era of the Metaverse, avatars are not merely virtual images but serve as means of self-expression, identity, and social interaction for users. Therefore, insulting an avatar can be seen as infringing upon the external reputation of the actual user."
The plaintiffs appealed, seeking an additional 32 million won in damages, but the court did not accept their claim.
The appellate court stated, "The reasons for the plaintiffs’ appeal do not differ significantly from those presented in the first trial," and added, "Even after reviewing all submitted evidence, including new evidence from the plaintiffs, the findings and judgment of the first trial are deemed appropriate."
The court concluded, "All of the plaintiffs’ appeals are dismissed," and added, "The plaintiffs are responsible for the costs of the appeal."
newssu@fnnews.com Kim Soo-yeon Reporter