Choi Si Won has won approval from a US court to obtain identifying information about anonymous users accused of posting malicious comments about him online, marking a major step in his ongoing legal battle.
According to reports on July 3, the US District Court for the Northern District of California granted Choi’s request for pretrial discovery on July 2 local time, AllKPop reported.
The order applies to 10 anonymous users on platforms including X and YouTube.
The decision allows Choi’s legal team to request personal details such as names, dates of birth, and addresses connected to the accounts. The information is expected to support a civil damages lawsuit already filed in South Korea over allegations of defamation and online insults.
Discovery is a legal process used in the United States that allows parties to gather evidence before a trial begins. Because the social media companies involved are based in the US, Choi’s lawyers turned to the American court system to access account information tied to the anonymous users.
The court reportedly agreed that the request was limited to the minimum amount of information needed to identify the users. The judge also found no evidence that the account holders were American citizens or residents, noting that the comments were written in Korean and targeted a South Korean public figure.
Choi Si Won Files Lawsuit
The controversy began after Choi shared several Chinese idioms and a Bible verse on social media following former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s first criminal verdict.
According to Pannatic, one phrase translated to “Those who commit injustice will inevitably perish,” while another described collapse “like crumbling earth and shattered tiles.”
Many online users interpreted the posts as political statements, which quickly sparked heated reactions.
Choi soon became the target of harsh criticism and personal attacks across social media platforms. Some comments criticized his political views, while others targeted his religion, appearance, and career.
In May, Choi filed a civil lawsuit against 10 individuals at the Seoul Central District Court, seeking damages for defamation and insult. His agency, SM Entertainment, has also continued its broader campaign against online harassment targeting its artists.
Earlier this year, the company said it was taking the spread of false information, malicious rumors, and insulting posts “very seriously” and promised to expand legal action after collecting evidence.