Cho Kuk's Side Partially Wins First Trial in 500 Million Won Damage Compensation Lawsuit Against Gaseyeon

Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk / Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk partially won a lawsuit against the cast of the YouTube channel 'Garo Sero Research Institute' (hereinafter Gaseyeon) for spreading false information about him and his family.

At 9:50 a.m. on the 10th, the Civil Division 25 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Song Seungwoo) ruled in the first trial of a 550 million KRW damages claim lawsuit filed by former Minister Cho against Gaseyeon Co., Ltd. and its operators, including lawyer Kang Yongseok, former MBC reporter Kim Seui, and Mr. Kim Yongho. In civil lawsuits, parties are not obligated to appear, so former Minister Cho and lawyer Kang did not attend the court.

On this day, the court ordered Mr. Kim to pay 10 million KRW to former Minister Cho, of which 8 million KRW must be jointly borne by Gaseyeon, lawyer Kang, and former reporter Kim. Additionally, the court ordered the three individuals and Gaseyeon to jointly pay 30 million KRW to former Minister Cho's daughter and 10 million KRW to his son.

The court also ordered the deletion of some problematic videos from the YouTube channel within seven days from the date the judgment is finalized.

Previously, lawyer Kang and others broadcast on YouTube that "Former Minister Cho Kuk operated a private equity fund that received funding from the Chinese Communist Party," "Former Minister Cho promoted a specific actress to enable her to appear in various works and commercials," and "Former Minister Cho's daughter drives a red foreign car."

In response, former Minister Cho filed a damages claim lawsuit in August 2020. His legal representatives emphasized, "Since the nomination of Cho Kuk as Minister of Justice, Gaseyeon and the three cast members have aired numerous YouTube broadcasts using insulting expressions and images not only about former Minister Cho but also about his children, spreading clear falsehoods."

They further stated, "Former Minister Cho and his children have suffered tremendous pain, and the resulting damage is very severe. Although Cho's children are not public figures with official status, they have been widely socially stigmatized due to the YouTube broadcasts, suffering not only defamation but also serious violations of their personal dignity."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.