STARSHIP Entertainment Is Done Playing Nice — IVE’s Agency Files Criminal Complaints Over Deepfakes and Online Harassment

K-pop group IVE has one of the most passionate fanbases in the world, but like many high-profile acts, they’ve also become targets of a disturbing wave of malicious online content. Now, their agency STARSHIP Entertainment has officially drawn the line — and it’s bringing the full force of the law with it.

What’s Happening — Key Facts at a Glance

What Did STARSHIP Entertainment Say?

STARSHIP Entertainment released a statement on May 11 addressing its continued legal action against individuals involved in spreading defamatory and harmful content about IVE members, including the creation and distribution of deepfake materials.

The agency made its position crystal clear — this is not a warning, it’s an active legal campaign. Based on reports from fans and materials collected through their own monitoring, they have filed criminal complaints with investigative authorities regarding malicious posts across various platforms including X (formerly Twitter), DC Inside, Naver, Daum Cafe, Nate Pann, Instiz, TheQoo, MLB Park, FM Korea, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.

Critically, STARSHIP also confirmed that these posts have been submitted as evidence in criminal proceedings, regardless of whether they have been deleted, set to private, or whether accounts have been changed or deactivated. So deleting the post won’t save anyone. soompi

Deepfakes — The Line That Cannot Be Crossed

The agency confirmed it has secured substantial evidence of activities such as the creation and dissemination of malicious rumors and false information about their artists, as well as posts that ridicule, defame, or contain sexually explicit content, along with the production and distribution of manipulated materials such as deepfakes. soompi

Deepfake technology — which uses AI to superimpose a person’s likeness onto fabricated video or images — has become an increasingly weaponised tool against celebrities and public figures, especially women in the K-pop industry. South Korea has some of the most progressive laws targeting deepfake sexual crimes, and agencies like STARSHIP are actively using them.

STARSHIP made its stance unambiguous — they will not show leniency or make exceptions in these matters and will hold all responsible parties fully accountable to the maximum extent permitted by law, pursuing strict legal measures including both criminal complaints and civil claims. soompi

Why This Matters Beyond IVE

This isn’t just about one group. The coordinated, agency-level crackdown on malicious content signals a broader industry shift — K-pop labels are no longer just issuing statements, they’re actively prosecuting offenders. Fans who report harmful content are directly contributing to real criminal investigations.

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