![Singer Lee Seung-hwan (left) and cartoonist Yoon Seo-in. [Yonhap]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/06/09/news-p.v1.20260609.98342748ffbc47da9a4867fb912558b1_P1.jpg)
Singer Lee Seung-hwan has filed a 50 million won (approximately $32,300) damages lawsuit against cartoonist Yoon Seo-in over remarks that referenced his divorce and other personal matters.
Lee's legal representative, law firm Haemaru, said Monday that Lee had submitted a complaint to the Seoul Central District Court seeking 50 million won in compensation for what it described as insulting expressions made by Yoon.
The dispute began when Lee posted an early voting verification photo on social media on May 29, writing that he hoped Seoul would be "safe all twelve months of the year" rather than a new landmark worth visiting only a few times a year.
Yoon shared the post on his own social media and responded with remarks calling Lee "an agitator lost in political delusions who couldn't even build a family and got divorced," and adding, "He's nearly 60 and still talking nonsense. How sad."
Haemaru argued that the comments went beyond criticism of political views and amounted to insulting and contemptuous personal attacks. The firm said the posts also included disparagement of Lee's private life unrelated to any political expression, and that publication on social media accessible to an unlimited audience made the violation particularly serious.
Haemaru further claimed that Yoon had previously been found to have made unlawful statements, and that even after Lee announced plans for legal action, Yoon posted additional insulting content disguised as an apology.
Yoon did post what he framed as an apology on his social media account on Friday, going through his remarks one by one.
On the phrase "got divorced," he wrote: "This is a widely known fact, but I am sorry for bringing it up unnecessarily. I apologize."
On calling Lee "an agitator lost in political delusions," Yoon wrote: "I'm not sure whether this counts as an insult or defamation by stating facts, but either way I am sorry. I apologize." On the reference to Lee's age, he added: "I myself am past 50 and growing old alongside everyone else. I'm sorry for mentioning his age without understanding the sadness that comes with aging. I apologize."
Regarding the remark that Lee was "still talking nonsense," Yoon wrote: "This too is a widely known fact, but I am sorry for bringing it up unnecessarily. I apologize."
Haemaru said Lee respects freedom of expression but believes indiscriminate and unlimited insults are shrinking public discourse in Korean society. The firm said the lawsuit was filed to establish that insults clearly intended to demean — such as those made by Yoon — constitute illegal conduct.
"The purpose of this lawsuit is to confirm that the conduct was unlawful," the firm added. "That is why we chose a civil suit rather than seeking criminal punishment."
yeonjoo7@heraldcorp.com
