Hello, this is SM Entertainment.

We provide the following guidance regarding our legal response to acts that infringe on the rights of our artists.

We strongly warn that anonymity on overseas platforms can no longer serve as a means to evade legal responsibility.

Even after our previous announcement, content maliciously disparaging or sexually harassing our artists continues to be posted on global platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter), centered around these sites. In particular, sensational content is being indiscriminately mass-produced on YouTube, rapidly spreading distorted images of our artists, resulting in extremely severe damage. To address this, our company has conducted intensive monitoring for approximately three months, completing the collection of evidence by identifying not only so-called "cyber wrecker" channels that habitually mock and defame our artists, but also accounts that have posted sexually harassing and personally attacking Shorts videos or comments.

Our company has retained Law Firm Sejong (Limited) and a local U.S. law firm to proceed with the U.S. court Discovery process for identifying the identities of the aforementioned accounts. The same procedures are underway for multiple X (formerly Twitter) accounts that have created malicious posts targeting our artists, and we plan to actively utilize the Discovery process going forward to take legal action without exception. We clearly inform you that this includes not only accounts that directly posted the content but also users who participated via comments.

For perpetrators active on domestic platforms as well, we will hold them fully accountable legally without any settlements or leniency. Our company continuously monitors anonymous platforms such as DC Inside Galleries (Male Celebrities, Other Domestic Dramas, 2012 London Olympics, 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Girls Planet 999 included) and has filed complaints under charges including violations of the Information and Communications Network Act and insult against those who spread false information related to our artists or insult them with contemptuous expressions. For numerous other malicious posts as well, we have already completed evidence collection and are preparing additional complaints.

In addition, in some of the cases we previously filed complaints for, guilty verdicts have been handed down in the first trial for violations of the Information and Communications Network Act (defamation) and insult against certain defendants. Appeals are currently underway, and for cases still in trial, it is difficult to disclose specific details until a final judgment is confirmed, in order to prevent any influence on the rulings or circumstances that could be exploited favorably by the defendants—we ask for your broad understanding on this matter.

Our company continues to take real-time measures such as monitoring and reporting posts based on tips received through "KWANGYA 119." The secured materials will be submitted as evidence to investigative authorities regardless of whether posts are deleted or accounts are deactivated or made private, so we reiterate that responsibility cannot be avoided through any evasive actions. Even if the investigation and trial processes take a long time, we will respond sternly with a zero-tolerance principle to criminal acts targeting our artists.

We extend our thanks to domestic and international platform companies that have cooperated with our requests for smooth investigations, and we sincerely thank our fans who unwaveringly report various malicious posts with their love for our artists. As reports received through "KWANGYA 119" are being importantly utilized in our legal responses, we ask for your continued attention and participation going forward.

Thank you.

🔗kwangya119.smtown.com/artist-list