Park Seo Joon’s agency, Awesome ENT, has clarified details surrounding a lawsuit against a restaurant that used the actor’s image without permission, stating that the damages sought were misreported.
Short Summary:
- Awesome ENT demands clarification on the lawsuit’s financial claims.
- The restaurant allegedly misused Park Seo Joon’s likeness for advertising since 2019.
- The court ruled in favor of Park Seo Joon, with a required payment of 5 million KRW.
In a recent controversy, popular South Korean actor Park Seo Joon sought legal action against a restaurant, referred to as “A,” for utilizing his image without consent in promotional materials. Initially, reports suggested Park requested a staggering 6 billion KRW (approximately 4.4 million USD) in damages. However, his agency, Awesome ENT, has come forward to clarify that the actual financial claims were significantly lower, amounting only to 60 million KRW (around 44,000 USD).
“We have asked the restaurant in question to stop using images of Park Seo Joon online and in print for years since 2019. Unfortunately, they ignored our requests, leaving us with no choice but to take legal action,” the agency stated.
Park Seo Joon’s legal battle stems from an incident linked to his appearance in the hit tvN drama What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?, which aired in 2018. In a memorable scene, Park’s character is shown enjoying ganjang gejang (raw marinated crab) at the restaurant. After the show aired, the dining establishment began capitalizing on this connection. They not only displayed Park Seo Joon’s images but also made presumptuous claims such as, “The crab dish even Park Seo Joon fell in love with,” on promotional banners.
According to sources, the restaurant used Park’s likeness in advertisements and Naver search ads for several years—from August 2019 up to now, according to reports. Despite numerous requests from Park Seo Joon’s team to take down the unauthorized promotional materials, the diner continued to use his image, ultimately leading to litigation.
“These malicious acts continued, which is why the lawsuit began,” added Awesome ENT, highlighting that they had consistently requested the promotional materials be removed since the issue’s inception.
Initially, the claim for damages was calculated based on standard advertising fees, amounting to 1 billion KRW per year for a total of six years of presumed infringement. “We acknowledged that the estimated damages could suggest 6 billion KRW. However, considering the scale of the restaurant’s business and their circumstances, we adjusted our claim down to 60 million KRW,” noted Awesome ENT in their statement.
The recent court ruling recognized Park Seo Joon’s rightful claims, albeit with a monetary compensation that fell short of expectations. The court ordered the restaurant to pay 5 million KRW (approximately 3,700 USD) as compensation. This ruling sparked mixed reactions among the public, where many expressed disappointment with Park Seo Joon for pursuing a lawsuit against a smaller business—some even labeling the actions as “petty.”
“Even 5 million won is a lot for a small business owner,” one netizen lamented, emphasizing the impact on local businesses.
Despite the relatively minor financial penalty awarded by the court, Awesome ENT has vowed to defend Park Seo Joon’s rights fiercely. The agency has indicated that continued harassment or defamation aimed at Park in light of the lawsuit will be met with further legal action. “We will respond to any acts that infringe on our artist’s publicity and personal rights without leniency or settlement,” asserted Awesome ENT.
This case also raises broader discussions about the rights of public figures and their protection against unauthorized use of likenesses in commercial settings. It serves as a reminder that the implications of image rights can lead to serious legal ramifications for individuals and businesses alike.
As the situation continues to unfold, fans of Park Seo Joon are left contemplating the line between permissible advertising practices and the protection of individual rights in an era where digital presence is inescapable. In this fast-paced environment, where celebrity endorsements are an essential component of business strategy, the balance of artistic representation versus commercial exploitation remains a hot topic.
For more insights on the evolving landscape of image rights, keep an eye on the Latest SEO News from Autoblogging.ai, where we explore how AI-driven tools assist in creating optimized content that delves into these important narratives.
As a self-proclaimed stalwart advocate for the intersection of autoblogging and AI, I believe stories like Park Seo Joon’s continue to shape our understanding of social dynamics between creators, brands, and consumers. Such cases signal the need for clear guidelines regarding image usage, especially in a landscape increasingly driven by digital media.
In conclusion, while the financial outcomes may not reflect the initial claims, they solidify the significance of personal rights and establish a precedent in the entertainment industry. Park Seo Joon’s journey through this legal maze sheds light on the complexities surrounding image rights, calling forth the need for fairness and integrity within advertising practices, further amplifying conversations surrounding the ethical dimensions of marketing in the celebrity-focused realm.
Stay updated with us at Latest AI News and witness how these narratives influence our collective consciousness while using AI Article Writers that adapt to such dimensional stories while keeping the SEO considerations in mind.
Do you need SEO Optimized AI Articles?
Autoblogging.ai is built by SEOs, for SEOs!
Get 15 article credits!
