"Moon Jae-in and Cho Kuk Conflict, Source is Kang Ki-jung" Gaseyeon Compensation Lawsuit, Former Chief Kang's Final Victory
First Trial: Compensation to Gaseyeon → Second Trial: "No Public or Social Relevance" 5 Million Won Compensation Ruling
[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] Former Blue House Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Kang Ki-jung has won a final victory in a damages lawsuit against the cast members of the ‘Garo Sero Research Institute’ (Gaseyeon), who claimed he was the original source of the alleged conflict between former President Moon Jae-in and former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk.
The Supreme Court's First Division (Presiding Justice Noh Tae-ak) on the 14th upheld the lower court's ruling ordering Gaseyeon affiliates to pay Kang 5 million won in damages in the appeal trial of the lawsuit filed by Kang against lawyer Kang Yong-seok and former reporters Kim Yong-ho and Kim Se-ui.
Former reporter Kim Yong-ho stated on October 14, 2019, during the Gaseyeon channel broadcast titled “[Emergency Broadcast] Surely he wouldn’t shamelessly return to his position as a Seoul National University professor? Cho Kuk!!!” that “When former President Moon told former Minister Cho to resign, Cho resisted. Who did this come from? It came from former Secretary Kang’s mouth,” among other remarks.
In response, former Secretary Kang filed a damages lawsuit, stating, “As a high-ranking official, the Senior Secretary for Political Affairs’ statements on current issues carry influence and impact. Due to former reporter Kim Yong-ho’s remarks, I could be perceived as a frivolous person unfit for my position.”
The first trial accepted Gaseyeon’s argument that “this is a matter of public interest and social significance, thus the illegality is excused and there is no liability for damages,” and dismissed Kang’s claim.
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However, the second trial ruled, “Kim’s statement that former Secretary Kang was the original source of the remarks should be evaluated as false, and whether Kang was the original source is unrelated to public interest or social significance,” ordering Gaseyeon affiliates to pay Kang 5 million won in damages. The Supreme Court also agreed with the second trial’s judgment.
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