IU’s plagiarism accuser ordered to pay $21,000 in compensation for false claims

A court orders IU's accuser to pay 30 million won in damages after unfounded plagiarism allegations.

Singer IU has won a legal battle against an individual who falsely accused her of plagiarism.

The Seoul Central District Court ruled on Wednesday that the accuser must pay 30 million won (approximately $21,000) in compensation for damages caused by the baseless claims.

The allegations, filed in May 2023, accused IU of plagiarizing six of her songs, including The Red Shoes (2013), Good Day (2010), and Celebrity (2021). However, police dismissed the complaint in August 2023, determining that the claims did not violate copyright law.

Despite the police decision, the accusations caused reputational harm to IU, prompting her to file a lawsuit in September 2023. Court proceedings continued without the defendant’s participation, as they remained unresponsive, leading the case to be resolved through a public notification process.

IU is also pursuing legal action against others who spread the unfounded plagiarism claims and posted malicious content online. Some individuals involved have already faced criminal penalties, including fines.

This ruling marks a significant victory for IU, who continues to defend her artistic integrity against false allegations while holding individuals accountable for defamatory actions.