PLAVE wins lawsuit over online insults targeting their virtual avatars
Virtual K-pop group PLAVE scored a legal win as a South Korean court ruled repeated insults against their avatars count as defamation of the real performers behind them.
On May 14, 2025, Judge Jang Yoo Jin of Uijeongbu District Court’s Goyang Branch ordered the defendant, Mr. B, to pay ₩100,000 KRW (about $73.20 USD) each to the five PLAVE members for emotional damages.
The ruling came after the PLAVE members filed a lawsuit over Mr. B’s social media posts in July 2024, which included phrases like “PLAVE XXXX” and “The person behind the avatar is ugly” on the platform X (formerly Twitter).
Mr. B argued that PLAVE’s virtual nature meant the performers were not explicitly named, so the comments shouldn’t count as defamation. The court disagreed.
Judge Jang ruled a victim does not need to be directly named for defamation if the public can reasonably identify them through context.
“Avatars are virtual representations used by individuals for self-expression and communication in digital spaces. In the era of the metaverse, where digital and real-life identities are increasingly intertwined, insults directed at an avatar may infringe on the external reputation of the actual user.”
The judge noted PLAVE’s performers—Yejun, Noah, Bambi, Eunho, and Hamin—are publicly known to fans, and Mr. B was aware of their real identities when posting the insults.
The court limited damages due to the language and circumstances, but the ruling is seen as a significant precedent defining “personhood” legally in digital and virtual spaces.
PLAVE, which debuted in 2023, operates as a five-member male virtual idol group. Their upcoming Asia tour kicks off with a sold-out show in Seoul.
