'40,000 won → 14,000 won plunge' Paik Jong-won's company: After users cursed at it, "I got sued"—a string of proof posts on stock discussion boards

[Financial News] It has been confirmed that The BORN Korea, the food-service company led by CEO Paik Jong-won, filed criminal complaints against users of online investment communities on suspicion of insult and other offenses.

According to Yonhap News Agency on the 17th, The BORN Korea recently filed complaints with Seoul Eunpyeong Police Station and other police stations against users who posted critical or defamatory content on Naver's stock discussion board for the company. The complaints reportedly included not only users of that investor community but also users of dcinside, FM Korea and Bobaedream.
The day before, an investor posted on the community, "I received a call saying I had been reported for insult." Another investor who said they had been reported wrote, "The police said I needed to explain the comments and what I had written about the fourth-quarter loss, and that I had to appear." The investor continued, "This is outrageous. Even though I have cursed at fraudulent companies, it looks like I am going to visit a police station for the first time in my life."
Another investor also wrote, "I got a call telling me to report for an investigation on suspicion of insult. I believe I made legitimate criticism; there were no insults either," and added, "The post was about how the company had caused significant harm after taking investments from shareholders and franchisees. It is frustrating that they are responding with a complaint." The investor attached a screenshot of their call history with Seoul Eunpyeong Police Station.
At least four users in the community are known to have said they were contacted by police. Seoul Eunpyeong Police Station said, "It is true that complaints have been filed against investors," but added that it could not confirm specific details, including the number of people named in the complaints, because the investigation is ongoing.

A spokesperson for The BORN Korea explained the reason for the complaints, saying, "Since last year, malicious posts and comments intended to defame us and spread false information, particularly on online communities, have been causing direct harm to the company and its franchisees."
The spokesperson continued, "We are currently taking legal action through a law firm, in accordance with established principles, against acts of defamation, abusive language and the dissemination of false information. This is an unavoidable and legitimate defensive measure to protect the reputation and trust of the company, its executives and employees, and its good-faith franchisees from baseless, blind slander and insults."
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