Dex, a broadcaster and former member of the Navy Special Warfare Flotilla (UDT), has decided to suspend his YouTube channel operations after revealing that he has been a victim of stalking by obsessive fans, known as "sasaeng fans." The term "sasaeng fan" refers to extremely zealous fans who follow their favorite singers, actors, models, or idols, and is a combination of the Korean words for "private" and "life" with the English word "fan." Sasaeng fans go beyond the boundaries of ordinary fandom and are recognized as a social problem and a form of stalking. Previously, the late actor Song Jae-rim was also known to have suffered from the actions of a Japanese sasaeng fan, which brought attention to the issue.
Dex. Provided by Kickhurdle Studio
On December 3, Dex's agency, Kickhurdle Studio, announced this news through its official account. The agency stated, "Dex's YouTube channel, 'Dex101,' will be taking a rather long break starting from December 2, 2024. Despite Dex101's best efforts over the past four years amid a busy schedule, and even after several recent breaks, we have determined that more internal reorganization of content is needed." The agency continued, "Recently, there have been frequent cases of unauthorized use of broadcast works featuring our artist Dex, including portrait rights, name rights, photos, and purely edited materials, both online and offline." They added, "We would like to inform you that all video works featuring Dex, as well as Dex (Kim Jin-young)'s portrait and name rights, are protected under copyright law, and unauthorized use may result in legal consequences. Please remove any unauthorized materials by December 10, 2024. After this date, we will take legal action regarding any further unauthorized use."
The agency emphasized, "We will take a firm stance against stalking crimes that continue to violate the privacy of our artist, such as visiting their residence or following them during their personal time to take photos and videos without consent, which have caused anxiety and fear." They continued, "Due to the spread of false information and various distorted rumors by some netizens targeting our artist, not only the artist but also their family members are suffering psychological harm. We urge an immediate stop to all stalking behaviors that inflict severe damage on the artist, their family, acquaintances, and associates. Kickhurdle Studio will take legal action without settlement against those who engage in stalking or maliciously spread unfounded falsehoods, in order to protect the basic rights of our artists."
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