Court Rules Avatars Are Also Subject to Defamation Lawsuits... Users Ordered to Pay 100,000 Won Each for Insulting Virtual Idols

A court ordered an individual who insulted members of a virtual idol group to pay 100,000 won each as damages. The Goyang Branch of the Uijeongbu District Court’s Civil Division 8 issued a judgment in favor of the five-member virtual idol group, ruling that the defendant must compensate each of the five plaintiffs 100,000 won. It was reported that the plaintiff, identified as A, posted series of mocking posts on social media in July of last year regarding the appearance of the virtual idol group’s members, and also shared derogatory content about the real people who portray those idols. The virtual group filed a lawsuit against A, demanding compensation of 6.5 million won each for the five members, arguing that such actions constituted defamation. A claimed the characters were fictional and their identities were hidden, so no identity match could be established between them and the plaintiffs, but the court rejected this argument. The judge stated, “In the metaverse era, avatars are not merely virtual images; they serve as tools for users’ self-expression, identity formation, and social interaction. Therefore, insulting an avatar can be considered an act that violates the external reputation of the actual user.” The judge also ruled that “the posts left by the defendant were derogatory personal attacks and cannot be viewed as simple opinions,” adding that “the plaintiffs suffered mental distress due to the humiliating expressions.” However, the judge specified that “considering the severity of the statements, the circumstances after the illegal acts, and various factors presented during the trial, the amount of compensation is limited to 100,000 won per case.” This judgment is regarded as a significant case that clarifies the legal status of virtual idols. Virtual idols refer to performers who use computer-generated avatars, with real people wearing virtual equipment to portray each member in real time. The court’s decision acknowledges that digital entities possess equal legal protection under the law as real people in the metaverse era, and it is expected to serve as an important precedent for similar cases in the future.