Appeal hearing held on defamation charges against Park Su-hong's sister-in-law

Broadcaster Park Su-hong's older brother and his wife. [Newsis]
Broadcaster Park Su-hong's older brother and his wife. [Newsis]

The sister-in-law of broadcaster Park Su-hong, 55, who was fined at trial on defamation charges for spreading false rumors about his private life, apologized at her appeal hearing Thursday and asked the court for leniency. Prosecutors called for the same sentence sought at the first trial — 10 months in prison.

According to legal sources, at the final appeal hearing held Thursday before the First Criminal Appeals Division of the Seoul Western District Court (presiding judge Ban Jeong-woo), prosecutors asked the court to "dismiss the defendant's appeal and impose the same 10-month prison sentence requested at the original trial."

Broadcaster Park Su-hong. [Newsis]
Broadcaster Park Su-hong. [Newsis]

The defendant, surnamed Lee, is accused of defaming Park by sending messages in a KakaoTalk group chat containing false claims that he had lived with a woman during his broadcasting career.

At Thursday's hearing, Lee's side maintained her innocence, arguing that the charges had not been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

Her defense attorney said Lee "had seen women's belongings at the victim's home on multiple occasions and had substantial reason to believe he was living with a woman," adding that "since the statements were not fabricated with knowledge of their falsity, the charge of defamation through false statements cannot stand."

The attorney also said Lee's remarks were intended to defend herself and her family against what she saw as an unfair portrayal — after Park had brought a family financial dispute into the public eye through the media — and that the statements were more defensive in nature than defamatory.

In her final statement, Lee apologized, saying: "Although it was an entirely private conversation among acquaintances, I am sorry for the pain it caused Park Su-hong and his wife, Kim Da-ye."

She added: "I am ashamed that I was neither wise nor careful in my words and actions. At the time I thought what I was doing was right, but looking back now I realize how foolish and shameful it was. I deeply reflect on this and will make sure it never happens again. I will be a mother my children can be proud of."

The first-instance court sentenced Lee to a fine of 12 million won ($7,800). The court found that she had committed the offense "with the intent to shape public opinion in favor of herself and her husband in their legal dispute and to defame the victim," and that she had "spread false information through online comments, making the offense serious in nature."

Meanwhile, Park's older brother, also surnamed Park, was indicted on charges of embezzling corporate funds and performance fees from an entertainment agency he managed exclusively on his younger brother's behalf. The Supreme Court recently upheld a sentence of three years and six months in prison. His wife, Lee, also had her first-trial acquittal overturned — she was found guilty of using 26 million won in corporate credit card funds for personal purposes and sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for two years.

Park Su-hong is also pursuing a civil damages suit against his brother and sister-in-law seeking approximately 19.8 billion won.


jshan@heraldcorp.com