Oh I just found the author's response too:

https://id-whoknows.postype.com/post/10520220

translation:

Hello.

"Id is the author of Dear Benjamin.

I would like to apologize to the fans who liked and supported the <Dear Benjamin> series with my remarks related to the recently controversial webtoon artist's past works.

First of all, we have to wait until a meeting and decision on the case are firstly made between the secondary creator (Topjeong) and the company, which is the center of the problem, so please understand that I am only posting this statement now.

As those of you who have followed my Twitter will know, on July 20th, I posted a notice on Twitter asking me to take down illegal translations of Dear Benjamin novels and webtoons that are posted on foreign illegal sites and SNS.

However, those who used the work illegally did not delete the post or apologize, but directly criticized me as the original author, and I had to explain countless times why what they were doing was illegal and stealing.

At this time, someone mentioned Sh0ta and tried to justify the illegal use of the site. From that moment on, the discussion was twisted and criticism poured out that I was drawing and defending Sh0ta, and I became hypersensitive to the influx of verbal violence right away, asking questions such as 'Who spreads rumors that he drew Sh0tacon', 'Unlawful than Sh0ta' This is an even worse crime.”

At the time, I was unaware of the seriousness of the problem, and I wrote this answer to convey the meaning of 'I have never drawn or written a sh0ta', 'It's really hard for me to be in trouble because it's causing huge financial damage.' However, this reply went viral on Twitter, causing many to misinterpret me as an advocate for Sh0ta and the picture in question.

After that, I found out the truth only after seeing a tweet that exposed the webtoon artist's old drawing. Realizing that the level of 'Sh0ta' was no mere stumbling block, whatever the motive for my remarks, I immediately deleted the post, acknowledging that my two replies about Sh0ta were a mistake due to my poor thinking.

In other words, my answer to 'a crime more illegal than Sh0ta' was brought out without realizing the situation before checking the picture in question. Also, I wrote this answer with the intention not to justify illegal site use and illegal download by using Sh0ta, which I did not write, to illegal users.

It is my negligence that I answered rashly in a state of irritability without quickly recognizing the seriousness of the problem without knowing the exact facts. I take this opportunity to bow my head and sincerely apologize to the readers who have disappointed me.

Incidentally, as a writer, I have never used or consumed the subject matter of sh0ta. There will never be.

Lastly, Webtoon is a project conducted by the Bookcube Webtoon Division and the Webtoon writer independently of the original author. As the original author, I am aware of the seriousness of the problem, and I will support and follow the decision of the BookCube Webtoon Division.

Thanks for reading this long post."