SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won (left) and Roh So-young, director of the Art Center Nabi. [Yonhap]
SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won (left) and Roh So-young, director of the Art Center Nabi. [Yonhap]

Prosecutors have decided not to indict a lawyer for Roh So-young, director of the Art Center Nabi, who was sued for defamation by SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won over remarks suggesting he spent more than 100 billion won ($74.7 million) on his live-in partner. Prosecutors reportedly concluded it was difficult to determine that the lawyer's remarks were false.

According to legal officials Friday, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office decided Sept. 9 not to indict the lawyer, identified only as A, who had been accused of defamation through the spread of false information, citing insufficient evidence.

A had spoken to reporters in November 2023 after a pretrial hearing in a damages lawsuit Roh filed against Kim Hee-young, former head of the TNC Foundation and Chey's live-in partner. At the time, A said, "There is a very high chance that the amount Chairman Chey spent on Chairperson Kim exceeds 100 billion won."

Chey's side subsequently filed a complaint against A, alleging the remarks damaged Chey's reputation by stating false information.

Prosecutors, however, determined it was difficult to conclude that A's remarks were false. They also reportedly found that the materials submitted by Chey's side were insufficient to prove the allegations.

Meanwhile, Chey has filed a second appeal after refusing to accept a retrial ruling ordering him to pay Roh 944 billion won in asset division.

On Aug. 31, Chey submitted a request to the court to narrow the scope of his appeal, saying he would not contest 700 billion won of the 944 billion won he owes Roh and would dispute only the remaining 244 billion won.


yeonjoo7@heraldcorp.com