Court Sentences Conservative Group Leader to 10 Million Won Fine for Defamation of Baek Nam-gi's Family

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The head of a conservative group who was indicted for defaming the late Baek Nam-gi's bereaved family has been sentenced to a fine.

Judge Jang Young-chae of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 11 sentenced Jang Ki-jung, the head of the Free Youth Union, to a fine of 10 million won on the 7th for violating the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc. (defamation).

Judge Jang stated, "The facts specified by the defendant are not related to the public interest, and it is recognized that the defendant posted the writings with the purpose of slandering the victim, thereby defaming them," adding, "The method and content of the crime are also unfavorable, as the defendant used highly transmissible social networking services (SNS) to defame the victims' honor."

Jang is accused of posting false information and images on internet sites and his own SNS account in October 2016, claiming that Baek's daughter enjoyed a vacation at an overseas resort despite her father being in critical condition.

Earlier, Baek's bereaved family filed a complaint with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office against Jang and others for defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act, alleging that they defamed the deceased and the bereaved family with false information.

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