The first hearing for a 30-year-old woman accused of posting malicious comments about singer IU took place today.

According to legal sources, the public prosecutor has requested a four-month prison sentence for the defendant, who was recently charged with insult.

Investigations showed that the accused posted four comments denigrating IU's appearance, vocal skills, and speech, leading to her indictment in April 2022.

In her defense, the defendant argued: "I simply used a simple symbol," and added: "I suffer from a mental illness, which affects my writing. I hope to be granted leniency."

The defendant's lawyer also argued: "My client expressed an opinion based on facts," and continued: "Although there may be unpleasant or insulting expressions, the offense of insult has not been established."

Last month, IU's agency released a statement saying, "We have selected serious cases with criminal elements, such as threats against the artist, spreading malicious false information, and distributing pornography, and filed complaints. Currently, 180 defendants are involved, and we are continuing to file additional complaints."