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K-Pop Star IU Seeks Meta User Data in US Court to Identify Rumor Monger

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • South Korean star IU has filed a lawsuit in the United States against Meta, seeking personal information of a user spreading malicious rumors.
  • The user allegedly posted 52 false claims about IU, including accusations of plagiarism and being Chinese.
  • The legal action aims to gather evidence for a defamation lawsuit in South Korea, with support from online personalities.

South Korean singer-songwriter IU is taking strong legal action against online commenters spreading malicious rumors, including a recent move to file a lawsuit in the United States against Meta. The singer's legal team has requested personal information from Meta's platforms to identify a user who falsely accused her of being Chinese.

Internet personality "Taiwanese Goddess" Hsu Pi voiced strong support for IU's legal efforts, posting on Facebook that she hopes more Korean celebrities will pursue similar lawsuits. Hsu noted that Threads, a Meta platform, is a major hub for online rumors globally, recalling that Super Junior member Choi Siwon also sued netizens for defamation.

According to South Korean media outlet Dispatch and entertainment reporter Lee Jin-ho, IU's team filed a request for discovery with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on July 15. They are seeking the identity and related data of the user behind the anonymous Threads account "@7hy*jin" to use as crucial evidence in a subsequent defamation lawsuit in South Korea.

Threads is a hotbed of online rumors worldwide. I remember Choi Siwon also sued netizens for rumors.

— Hsu PiInternet personality Hsu Pi expressing support for IU's legal action and referencing similar cases.

The Threads account "@7hy*jin" allegedly posted 52 false statements about IU between March and October 2025. These posts included accusations of plagiarism, claims of Chinese nationality, allegations of controlling media and public opinion, and exploiting tragedies. Specifically, the account suggested IU was a "fluent Cantonese-speaking overseas Chinese" and that her Korean writing style differed from native Koreans. It also falsely claimed she worked for Chinese capital, with her brand collaborations, endorsements, and donations allegedly linked to Chinese companies.

IU herself has previously stated that one of the most absurd online comments she encountered was the accusation that she is Chinese. This legal action underscores the growing efforts by celebrities to combat online harassment and misinformation.

I am Chinese.

— Anonymous user on Threads (alleged)A false accusation made by the Threads user '@7hy*jin' against IU.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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