Suspicion of illegal leaking of V-Jennie’s photos, the media focused only on dating rumors

“V-Jenny’s new couple photo, a dazzling forehead kiss” (2nd, Sports Kyunghyang)
“‘The 4th dating rumor’ Jennie ♥ V, forehead kiss → video call?” (2nd, Money S)

Looking at the titles of the articles, it seems that BTS member V (Kim Tae-hyung) and Black Pink member Jenny (Kim Jennie) are dating rumors. Judging from the title alone, it can be presumed that it was either caught by someone while in a secret relationship, or that one of the two revealed the dating rumors by posting a photo on social media. If you look at the content of the article, that’s the tone.

Sports Kyunghyang said, “A new couple photo of V and Jennie, who are being accepted as dating rumors as true, has been released. In this photo, V and Jennie are kissing foreheads and having a video call.” Regarding the source of the photo, it was reported that “This netizen also released a part of another couple photo of V and Jennie.

▲ Media report about the leak of V and Jennie’s photos

I didn’t focus on who ‘this netizen’ is, but who is ‘he’, so there are various couple photos of V and Jenny. The media added, “As photos of a couple with V and Jennie are released one after another, the dating rumors seem to be becoming a fact.” The focus is on whether their secret relationship is true or not.

Money S also reported, “An additional date photo of a man and woman presumed to be V and Jennie has been released.” Regarding the source, he said, “The source of the photo is guessed to be Jenny’s cloud account.”

So far, it is presumed that it is V and Jennie, and the source of the photo is also presumed to be Jenny’s cloud. If so, there is a high possibility that this case is an illegal hacking/leakage incident that illegally broke into someone else’s account and leaked their privacy. V and Jenny are victims of illegally leaked photos, but no matter where you look in the article, the content of the illegality is not emphasized.

Rather, because they are famous celebrities, the photos of the victims were released and became the target of abusing articles. This is not the first case of illegal photo leaks involving BTS. Nevertheless, it is problematic to report this case as if a secret love had been revealed naturally. There are articles that broadcast the leaked incident live or reacted as if they were waiting for the leak.

“V and Jenny’s ‘Imakis’ leaked… It finally exploded” (INews 24 on the 2nd)
“‘Dating Rumor’ V and Jennie’s kiss photos were eventually leaked” (Star News on the 2nd)
“‘V kissing Jennie’s forehead’… V X Jennie, couple photos leaked one after another” (Sports Chosun on the 2nd)

▲ Many of the photos leaked online were taken from the media as they are.

In some media, the source of the leaked photo was revealed through SNS and attached to the article. According to media reports, photos in Jenny’s personal cloud were leaked, and it was leaked online without confirming the consent of the parties.

According to a 2017 public opinion poll by the Media Research Center of the Korea Press Foundation, 72.2% of respondents answered ‘disagree’ to the question of whether photos of public officials or celebrities in private areas are worth reporting. 63.8% of the respondents answered that there is no need to report the celebrity’s dating scene with the media revealing their real name and photos. In this case of illegal possession, it would be inappropriate to report the photo.

[관련기사 : 연예인 심야데이트 사진 “보도할 필요 없다” 63.8%]

▲ This is not the first time that celebrities’ private lives have been leaked. photo = pixabay

In the end, the media reports are in line with the photographer’s intentions. The person who is presumed to be the revealer is also showing a reaction that seems to mock the victims, such as that he tried to contact Jenny and that V or Jenny would sue him.

On the 29th of last month, the Korean economy said, “Is it love affair or money? As the couple photos of V and Jennie were released one after another, interest is focused on whether the exposer wants a monetary reward or an acknowledgment of the dating rumors.”

There are two responses that V and Jenny’s management company can take. It is to refrain from responding publicly and to entrust this illegal leak case to an investigative agency. It is a matter to be decided in consideration of legal review or protection of the celebrity’s privacy. However, the media attention is on dating rumors. According to Sports Kyunghyang, “Big Hit Music and YG Entertainment, under Hive’s affiliates, have not made a special position on the dating rumors.”

This case is not ‘another dating rumor’ but ‘illegal hacking crime’. Careful reporting is required.

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