KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 — K-Pop fandoms are a force to be reckoned with, and few can boast to coming close to the dedication of loyal fans of singer, songwriter, actor and director Kim Jae-joong when it comes to dealing with haters to protect their idol.
The member of boyband JYJ and one of the original members of the group TVXQ, and the richest K-Pop idol reportedly worth more than USD100 million (RM470 million) has a dedicated and organised army of followers who will not put up with haters.
From 2014 to 2021, Jae-joong's fans have organised lawsuits against malicious Internet commenters, with nearly 30 individuals sued, tried, and convicted for various offences including defamation, slander and spreading false rumorus, allkpop reveals.
The legal action by fans have brought upon punishment on the star's haters in the form of fines as high as USD1,000 (RM4,7000), with those considered minors assigned educational course hours.
Six individuals were even convicted multiple times for repeated offences.
And his fans show no sign of easing up on those who attack their idol.
Releasing a list of their legal successes, Jae-joong's fans also issued a warning to those who cross the line.
“Fans of Kim Jaejoong will continue to report malicious commenters. Please continue to send screen shots of malicious activity online, including guerrilla-type malicious posts which are uploaded, then quickly deleted. If convicted, it will remain on your record for life, and you could encounter the following difficulties: finding employment, immigrating to another country, subject to investigation during international flight arrivals/departures, etc.”
It is a widely-known fact that some of the fan club members who regularly contribute to the fan-led lawsuit effort are lawyers themselves.
The Internet responded with many in awe and envy of the dedicated and hardworking fans, with some commenting that entertainment agencies should take cue from the fandom in how to protect their talents.
