Prosecutors Dismiss HYBE Defamation Case, Rule Media Play Accusations 'Not Untrue'

Prosecutors have dismissed HYBE's legal complaint against a netizen, delivering a non-indictment decision that implicitly validates the core of the online criticism. The Bucheon branch of the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office ruled that the individual's remarks—which accused the entertainment giant of engaging in 'media play'—did not constitute criminal defamation or insult. This legal outcome suggests the court found a factual basis in the accusations, challenging HYBE's aggressive stance against public commentary.

The case stemmed from HYBE's attempt to criminally charge a netizen over online posts. Prosecutors, after review, concluded the statements were not false or made with malicious intent to harm HYBE's reputation. The decision, obtained by Financial News, clears the individual of all charges under the Information and Communications Network Act. This marks a significant setback for HYBE's legal strategy to police public discourse and control its corporate narrative through litigation.

The ruling places public scrutiny directly on HYBE's internal and external communications strategies, often colloquially termed 'media play.' It signals to the industry and the public that not all critical online discourse is legally actionable, potentially emboldening further scrutiny of corporate practices. For HYBE, this represents a reputational pressure point, as a state prosecutor's office has effectively declared that allegations of manipulative public relations are 'not untrue,' undermining its authority in the court of public opinion.