'Kim Gun-hee Phone Call Contents Disclosure' 100 Million Won Compensation Lawsuit, First Trial in October

President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The first trial of the damages lawsuit filed by First Lady Kim Geon-hee, wife of President Yoon Seok-yeol, against internet media personnel who disclosed conversations with her will be held in October.

According to the court on the 29th, Judge Kim Ik-hwan of Civil Division 201 at the Seoul Central District Court set the first hearing for the 100 million won damages claim lawsuit filed by Kim against Baek Eun-jong, CEO, and reporter Lee Myung-soo, among others affiliated with the media outlet 'Seoul's Voice,' for October 7. Unlike criminal trials, civil litigation does not require the parties to appear in person, and the hearing can proceed with only the legal representatives present.

Initially, Judge Kim decided to refer the case to mediation, believing it preferable for the parties to resolve the dispute through mutual agreement. However, mediation failed as no agreement was reached during the session on June 24. Since compulsory mediation cannot be enforced if either party refuses, the case will proceed through formal trial procedures.

Earlier, reporter Lee from 'Seoul's Voice' announced that he had recorded a conversation with Kim in January, ahead of the presidential election, and planned to disclose the content in collaboration with MBC. In response, Kim filed an injunction against MBC and 'Seoul's Voice' to prevent the release of the recording.

At that time, the court ruled to allow disclosure except for parts related to private matters. Subsequently, MBC and 'Seoul's Voice' each released the conversation between Kim and reporter Lee through broadcasts and YouTube channels.

Following this, on the 17th of the same month, Kim filed a damages lawsuit against 'Seoul's Voice' seeking 100 million won. In the complaint, Kim introduced herself as "the spouse of Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's 20th presidential candidate," and claimed that "the defendants' illegal recording and broadcasts disregarding the court's injunction seriously violated her personal rights, honor, privacy rights, and voice rights."

Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency referred reporter Lee to the prosecution on the 23rd on charges of violating the Communications Privacy Protection Act. The police judged that there was intentionality in secretly recording the conversation with Kim. They based this on the fact that last July, at the office of Cobana Contents in Seocho-gu, Seoul, operated by Kim, reporter Lee left his recording phone in the office when he briefly left to use the restroom.

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