On the 20th, NewJeans fans reported that a netizen, referred to as “A,” repeatedly posted on an online community, stating, “I’m going to [commit an act of violence] against NewJeans.” Although the posts have since been deleted, records still exist on platforms like Google. The controversy escalated as A indirectly identified the location of NewJeans’ dorm through live broadcasts, even threatening to “find the lake next time” after pinpointing the dorm. With a direct threat to their location, there is an urgent need for thorough measures. Fans have been saving the relevant posts as PDFs and reporting them.
HYBE responded to Sports World, saying, “We will look into it,” adding, “We are regularly pursuing legal action.”
This is not the first time threats have been made against NewJeans, highlighting the need for stronger measures. In June, a post warning of a knife attack against NewJeans led fans to report it to the police. The netizen at that time had posted a message titled “I bought this to use at the NewJeans concert,” along with a picture of a Japanese knife, saying, “I’ll give one to each of them when they get off the van.” However, the knife photo was not taken by the poster but was a promotional image captured from an online sales site. Fans captured and shared the post, encouraging others to report it to the police and posted proof of their reports.
Regardless of whether the threat is actually carried out, when a specific target is named, the act is typically punishable as a criminal offense. If preparations for an attack were made, charges of attempted murder or attempted assault could apply. The penalty for threats is up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 5 million won. Special threats can result in up to seven years in prison or a fine of up to 10 million won. Attempted murder charges can lead to a sentence of up to 10 years.
Anonymous threats against not only NewJeans but also other famous celebrities have consistently sparked controversy online. There have been previous incidents involving threats against IVE’s Jang Won-young, aespa’s Winter, and singer IU.
