As defamatory graffiti targeting singer BoA is being discovered throughout Seoul, her agency plans to take legal action.
On the 11th, BoA's agency, SM Entertainment, stated, "We have confirmed that many instances of graffiti insulting artist BoA have been found across Seoul through valuable tips from fans and our own monitoring."
They added, "After checking the site near Gangnam Station in person, we reported it, and an investigation is underway at the relevant police station," and noted, "We also plan to submit an additional formal complaint today."
They emphasized, "Posting false information that harms the character and dignity of the affiliated artist and acts intended to maliciously defame the artist are clearly criminal acts," and stated, "We will respond to these criminal acts firmly and rigorously without any leniency according to principles."
They also mentioned, "We are continuously monitoring the distribution of false information, malicious personal attacks, and insults against BoA occurring across various social media platforms, video-sharing platforms, and online communities," adding, "We are regularly initiating legal procedures against matters that are clearly criminal acts."
SM stated, "We will continue to take strong legal action against various illegal activities and criminal acts to protect our affiliated artists in the future."
Earlier, a post on an online community stated, "There are many low-level hate comments targeting singer BoA written at numerous spots such as stations, transformers, and billboard posts around Gangnam." The accompanying photos showed aggressive graffiti aimed at BoA on bus stop advertisements. Additionally, many accounts emerged about sightings of the graffiti throughout Seoul.
As the post spread, BoA's fans began voluntarily starting a "graffiti removal" effort by sharing the locations of the graffiti on social media.