RESCENE Files First Criminal Complaint Over Malicious Rumors: “No Leniency, No Exceptions”

Rising girl group RESCENE is taking strong legal action against baseless rumors and malicious attacks targeting its members.

First criminal complaint filed against rumor spreaders; agency vows to pursue severe penalties

The group’s agency, The Muze Entertainment, said in an official fan community post on the 12th that it had filed its first criminal complaint after confirming that posts containing baseless rumors and malicious attacks targeting RESCENE members Woni, Liv, Minami, May and Zena had been repeatedly written and circulated. The agency said it filed complaints against creators of highly abusive content based on its own monitoring and reports from fans. It also vowed to work with investigative authorities to identify those responsible and pursue them to the end, even if they delete posts, change or deactivate their accounts, use overseas platforms or try to mask their IP addresses.

“Not a single exception”: Agency reiterates firm zero-tolerance policy

The agency made clear that it would offer no leniency or reach settlements in the legal proceedings. “Even if an offender identified during the investigation submits a letter of apology or asks for leniency on the grounds that this is their first offense or because of their age, we will hold them legally accountable to the end, without a single exception,” the agency warned. It reiterated that protecting its artists’ rights and dignity would remain a top priority and that it would use every available means to respond firmly to malicious posts.

New album PULSE becomes a half-million seller; first solo concert set for February next year

As RESCENE takes on online abusers, the group is also surging in its music career and cementing its status as a leading girl group. Its fourth mini album, PULSE, released on the 3rd, sold 602,688 copies in its first week, marking the group’s first half-million-seller milestone since debut. Its title track, “With,” also topped Melon’s Top 100 as of the morning of the 13th and swept the top spots on major music charts and music shows. Building on a meme that began with its own content and the resurgence of its previous release “LOVE ATTACK,” the group is set to meet fans at its first solo concert since debut in February next year.

Here is the full statement from The Muze Entertainment:

Hello, this is The Muze Entertainment.

We sincerely thank all the fans who always cherish and support RESCENE. We would like to share the following update on the strong legal measures we are taking to protect our artists.

We recently confirmed that posts containing baseless rumors and malicious attacks targeting RESCENE members have been repeatedly written and circulated on online communities and various social media platforms. We will no longer tolerate these malicious criminal acts, which clearly go beyond the bounds of fair criticism or the expression of opinions.

Accordingly, based on our own monitoring and the active reports of our fans, we have filed our first criminal complaint against those who wrote, created and distributed highly abusive content. Investigations by the relevant authorities are now underway, and we intend to ensure that those responsible face serious legal consequences, even if the process takes time.

We monitor in real time for infringements of our artists’ rights across online channels in Korea and abroad, including major online communities, social media and video platforms, and are gathering information on the activities of offenders and related evidence. Even if authors immediately delete posts, change their IDs or leave a platform, we will use evidence already collected to track them down and pursue legal action. We will work with investigative authorities to identify those responsible even when malicious content is posted on overseas platforms, the offenders live abroad, use anonymous communities or mask their IP addresses. We warn in the strongest terms that no one will be exempt from criminal punishment.

We make clear that, to protect RESCENE, we will continue to take strict legal action under a zero-tolerance policy against any conduct that infringes on our artists’ rights, without settlements or leniency under any circumstances. Even if an offender identified during the investigation submits a letter of apology or asks for leniency on the grounds that this is their first offense or because of their age, we will hold them legally accountable to the end, without a single exception.

If you come across illegal acts that infringe on our artists’ rights, please report them through our reporting site.

We sincerely thank everyone who continues to give RESCENE your unwavering love and support. We once again promise to make protecting our artists our top priority and to use every available means to respond firmly to malicious posts.