SEVENTEEN's agency responds to malicious comments, privacy violations... "Settlement, no punishment";

Group Seventeen's agency Pledis Entertainment has announced a tough response to various misconduct against its members.

The agency said on Sunday through Weverse, a fan community platform, that it is "proceeding with complaints against various misconduct such as leaking undisclosed information, malicious comments, defamation, and invasion of privacy," emphasizing that "there will be no settlement or good behavior, especially for malicious commenters."

The company also recently revealed that an airline employee illegally sold Seventeen members' flight boarding information, saying, "Following an investigation, the employee was criminally charged with violating the Information and Communications Network Act."

The agency said it is also taking a tough stance against artist privacy violations. "We are taking strong legal action, including filing a complaint for violation of the Stalking Crimes and Punishment Act," it said."

Regarding the leak of undisclosed information, the company said, "Since the beginning of 2023, confidential information such as unreleased albums and performances of artists has been leaked several times through anonymous bulletin boards on the Internet," adding, "After a certain point, the level of leakage became serious and we started collecting evidence for legal action." "In the second half of last year, we hired a law firm to file a criminal complaint, and the investigation is currently underway."

The company also took a tough stance against malicious commenters. "We have collected malicious posts and comments slandering the artist on various communities and social media sites in Korea and abroad," it said, adding, "We have filed a complaint with the investigative agency, including all the authors of insulting, derogatory, personal attacks, sexual harassment, unfounded rumors, and invasion of privacy posts as targets for prosecution."

The company will continue to monitor and pursue legal action to protect its artists.