Partial Victory for Kim Nam-guk in Defamation Case

A former member of the Democratic Party of Korea has won partial victory in a defamation case against an ex-youth chief of the People Power Party.

Kim Nam-guk, a former lawmaker, had filed a damages suit against Jang Ye-chan, who had accused him of ‘illegal coin trading’ during a radio interview last year.

On Friday, Han Woong-hee, a judge at the Seoul Southern District Court, ruled in part to accept Kim’s claim.

The court ordered Jang to pay Kim 30 million won ($23,000) in damages, less than the 50 million won that Kim had originally claimed.

“According to broadcasting review regulations, one should not express someone as a criminal until a final court judgment is made,” the court noted.

“Nevertheless, the defendant rejected the opportunity to correct his statements limited by the host and further specified false facts.”

The court added, “Even if there are controversies regarding the plaintiff’s virtual asset holdings, transaction timing, and volume, or if the plaintiff’s explanations regarding the controversies are unclear, it is not permissible to defame the plaintiff by recklessly claiming he committed a crime without any basis.”

In May last year, Jang had taken to social network service posts and a radio interview to raise suspicions that Kim had engaged in illegal coin trading by preemptively knowing listing information.

Kim filed a damages lawsuit against Jang in September that year, and also filed defamation charges against Jang and fellow party member Kim Sung-won for false statements, but these were concluded with no charges.

The verdict on Kim’s charge of obstruction of official duties by deceit is expected on the 10th of next month.

Kim is accused of concealing significant profits from coin investments during the 2021-2022 National Assembly property reports, thereby obstructing the National Assembly Public Official Ethics Committee’s review of property change details.