On November 17 Loen Entertainment filed a lawsuit against netizens who allegedly posted fake composite photos of singer-actress IU and used the photos to spread rumors about her.
A representative for Loen Entertainment was quoted in Korean media outlet Insight, explaining that the evidence for the lawsuit was gathered before IU's comeback. Her latest album "Chat-Shire" was released digitally on October 23, 2015.
"We collected her fake photos and evidence of people spreading false rumors about her even before her comeback. We already filed the lawsuit and we plan to prosecute."
The album's lead single "Twenty-Three" topped the charts but not without some controversy. It was alleged that Britney Spears' voice samples were used without permission on the single "Twenty-Three." IU issued an apology for not checking the samples' sources, as she was the album's producer. She was also criticized for the illustration on the album cover. A petition with 13,000 signaures called for her to abandon the aong titled "Zeze."
It's not the first time that IU and her agency have taken action against malicious rumors that were spread online.
In 2013 IU also filed a lawsuit against netizens who spread false rumors about her and Super Junior singer Eunhyuk. The remarks concerned a photo that she accidentally posted in November of 2012. In the photo IU and Super Junior's Eunhyuk were sitting on a couch but some netizens speculated that they were in bed together. She explained that Eunhyuk was sick and she was taking care of him. Her mother was with them. But despite her explanation, the rumors only escalated. Soon the rumors said they were getting married because she was pregnant.
Six months later Loen Entertainment filed charges with the Seoul Prosecutor's Office. A police investigative team found the person responsible for starting the rumors and by September he was in custody. He asked for mercy and the charges were dropped in exchange for 200 hours of community service.
IU transitioned into acting by appearing in several dramas, including 'Dream High," "Pretty Man," "You're The Best Lee Soon Shin" and most recently "Producers" with Kim Soo Hyun and Gong Hyo Jin.
