Laws are very different in Korea. ppl can go to jail over posting. Now what they will do to int people is less clear. It took forever to get a handle on the Canadian guy call ing in bomb threats to apink. He did not get punished despite what i am sure is a serious felony in most of the world.
Give it time North America will be like that too...
But the spirit of my post still remains valid, at least in my opinion. While laws regarding freedom of the press may be more conservative, as they are, and restrict what can be said, there is still a sense of improper use of power I feel from this post. Although some things are unclear. I was unsure of whether SM, when saying to send evidence of illegal actions if they were talking about people or sources speaking ill about idols without proof or evidence of idol's wrongdoing. If it were the former then that makes it worse. However, if it is the latter, where individuals report wrongdoing on the idols to the agency that just sounds like they are doing the same things I suggested plus trying to handle the scandles before they are scandles, so they may be let go of an agency weeks before the scandal is reported so their damage control is much cleaner.
Regardless of culture though people are going to spread rumors and gossip about others. Its human nature. And the post by SM made it seem like it was coming for those regardless of whether they are associated with a tabloid or news source. It is addressed to online communities and YouTube and social medias. Its very tacky for a big corporation, because that is what SM is, to toss around these threats when in fact they are unlikely to take legal action against those making little $$$ as it would be a loss for them [SM] in filing and court fees... Unless they intend to file suits just to put forth a narrative that they will sue. Its like this Adult Film Corporation that was in the news 10 years ago that was sending mad cease and desist notifications to those illegally downloading their content. Merely a scare tactic.
But it is in the interest of SM to protect their shareholders. I just find it disingenuous to act like they are doing so because of their deep affection for their idols.