2 Fans Broke Into CORTS' Home, Bought the Address Online: Now Walk Free

Two foreign nationals walked into CORTS' residence without permission in July, having purchased the address through illegal online channels. Prosecutors confirmed the charges, then handed them a suspended indictment, meaning no trial, no criminal record. Big Hit Music announced on the 16th that it is formally contesting that decision.

"We view trespassing into a residence and the illegal trading of personal information as a direct and serious threat to our artists' safety and privacy," the label said in a statement. "We will be pursuing the appeal process to seek a renewed legal judgment on whether charges should be brought."

The two suspects were referred to prosecutors without detention on charges of joint residential trespass, a meaningful distinction under Korean law: uninvited entry into shared spaces including building lobbies, hallways, and elevators qualifies as residential trespass, and trespass committed by two or more people together is subject to aggravated penalties. Big Hit Music made a point of spelling both of those out.

Zero tolerance, expanded

The label also reaffirmed a zero-tolerance policy on malicious online content targeting its artists, specifically naming defamatory posts, the spread of false information, and sexual harassment.

Beyond the residence incident, Big Hit Music flagged a wider pattern of behavior it says it is now actively documenting: fans who use illegally obtained flight information to book seats on the same aircraft as artists, attempt in-flight contact, secretly film during flights, or tamper with in-flight meal orders. Tailing artists via vehicle or monitoring their accommodations falls under the same category. The label says it will pursue legal action in all such cases after gathering evidence.

The CORTS break-in is one of the more brazen examples of so-called sasaeng behavior to surface in recent months, and the label's decision to appeal the suspended indictment signals it has no interest in letting the outcome stand as a precedent.