Felix Lawsuit: California Subpoena to X and Korean Penalties

Stray Kids member Felix is suing an anonymous X user for defamation over posts claiming he mistreated his staff, and the Felix Stray Kids lawsuit now spans two countries: a stalled civil case in Seoul and a U.S. federal proceeding in California aimed at unmasking the poster so the Korean case can move forward.¹

The Posts at the Center of the Case

An anonymous X account uploaded at least three posts about Felix on March 8, March 15, and May 24, 2025.² The posts claimed Felix treated support staff “like servants” and behaved “like a prince.”³ Felix has said the allegations caused him significant mental and physical distress and damaged his reputation.¹

Why the Case Had to Cross Into the U.S.

Felix first filed a civil defamation lawsuit at the Seoul Eastern District Court, but it stalled almost immediately. The X user had posted anonymously, and without a name and address the court could not proceed with service.¹ X, based in the United States, generally will not turn over user data on a foreign court’s request alone.

To break the deadlock, Felix filed an ex parte application in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on September 3, 2025, invoking 28 U.S.C. § 1782, a federal statute that lets U.S. courts authorize discovery for use in foreign proceedings.⁴

What the California Court Approved

Judge Beth Labson Freeman approved the application on September 5, 2025, two days after it was filed.⁴ The order authorized a subpoena to X for personally identifiable information tied to the account, including sign-up email addresses, registered phone numbers, and login IP records.² The matter is docketed as No. 5:25-mc-80263, with an amended order entered on January 28, 2026, and a stipulated protective order signed on May 12, 2026.

Once Felix obtains the user’s real identity from X, he intends to use it to resume the civil suit in Korea.³ He is represented on the Korean side by attorney Jeong Kyung Seok of Riu Law Firm, who previously won a damages judgment of roughly $38,000 on appeal in a case identifying the operator of the YouTube channel “Taldeok Camp.”⁵

What the Poster Could Face in Korea

South Korea treats defamation as a criminal offense under Article 307 of the Korean Criminal Act, and false defamatory statements carry a maximum penalty of seven years in prison.⁶ Felix’s suit is civil rather than criminal, but recent K-pop cases show what courts have been willing to impose in adjacent proceedings. The operator of the YouTube channel “Sojang,” who posted dozens of defamatory videos about idols, received a two-year prison sentence suspended for three years, 120 hours of community service, and forfeiture of 210 million won in criminal proceeds, finalized by South Korea’s Supreme Court on January 29, 2026.⁷ In a separate civil case in April 2026, the same operator was ordered to pay 170 million won (about $115,000) to SM Entertainment and artists from aespa, EXO, and Red Velvet.⁸

Where the Case Stands

As of mid-2026, Felix’s U.S. case remains on the docket with a protective order in place, which suggests the process of obtaining user data from X is either underway or completed.⁴⁹¹⁰

1
allkpop. Stray Kids Felix Takes Legal Action Against a Social Media User Who Spread Defamatory Rumors
2
Koreaboo. Stray Kids Felix Distressed by Bullying Staff Allegations
3
Times of India. Stray Kids Felix Accused of Mistreating Staff
4
PACER Monitor. In re Ex Parte Application of Fewlix Yongbok Lee
5
allkpop. Stray Kids Bang Chan Pursues Identities of X Users Who Posted Deepfakes
6
U.S. Department of State. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices – South Korea
7
Maeil Business Newspaper. Court Finalizes Sojang Operator Sentence
8
Korea JoongAng Daily. Court Orders YouTube Channel Sojang Operator to Pay $115,000 to SM Entertainment
9
Soompi. JYP Shares Update on Legal Action to Protect Stray Kids
10
allkpop. JYP Entertainment Launches Strong Legal Action Against Stalkers and Malicious Commenters