- HYBE has filed a rare international lawsuit against a malicious internet user reportedly residing in Argentina.
- The individual made over 3,000 derogatory postings on X, primarily targeting HYBE and BELIFT LAB artists.
- The company's cross-border legal endeavor seeks to address jurisdictional gaps, which frequently protect anonymous overseas commentators.
HYBE Labels has launched a very significant legal battle against a malicious online commenter alleged to be based in Argentina. This is an unusual instance of a South Korean entertainment company lawsuit escalating into an international civil and criminal investigation.
According to reports made by South Korean media, particularly YTN Star, HYBE recently filed a preliminary request for preservation of evidence with a federal civil and commercial court in Argentina. If issued, the order would require local internet service providers to keep registered account data related to the suspect's activity, potentially supporting future legal claims.
HYBE’s Cross-Border Legal Effort
The move comes after HYBE confirmed the unidentified defendant's location through a discovery lawsuit in a U.S. federal court in California. Since March 2025, the individual has allegedly sent over 3,000 defamatory statements on X (previously Twitter). The company claims the accused social media account purportedly made false assertions about HYBE and its subsidiary BELIFT LAB artists, including claims of illegally acquiring private messages and judicial conspiracy.
Industry experts described the move as important to defend artists' rights in an era marked by the rapid global diffusion of social media information. Companies can seek civil damages as well as criminal sanctions for defamation under South Korean law and global norms. However, successful prosecution frequently depends on the capacity to identify unidentified users.
International Legal Push by K-pop Companies
HYBE's legal escalation is not unprecedented. South Korean K-pop agencies have long filed civil and criminal actions against vicious internet users and defamatory statements. JYP Entertainment and BELIFT LAB have publicly pledged to take legal action against online abuse of their artists like Stray Kids and ENHYPEN, citing evidence collected through local as well as global social platforms.
Additionally, other agencies like SM Entertainment and Source Music have also warned of repercussions for defamatory postings that appear online. Courts in South Korea have also supported defamation claims against harmful internet speech, including cases involving virtual idols, showing that domestic legal remedies are a well-established tool for reputation protection.
ENHYPEN
However, these actions have largely remained within national borders, and prosecutions for online comments are often handled within South Korean laws. Enforcement actions against international users have been significantly less common. In 2024, a federal judge in California rejected HYBE's attempt to compel a U.S. court to identify an anonymous X account purportedly defaming artists such as BTS and LE SSERAFIM, highlighting the challenges of cross-border discovery under U.S. free speech grounds.
In this context, the company's recent move represents a more proactive step. By orchestrating legal action across U.S. and Argentine authorities, HYBE hopes to close jurisdictional gaps that have so far protected malicious global netizens. The outcome may affect how entertainment corporations approach cross-border defamation, as digital reputational concerns grow.
