Prosecutors Assign Lee Jun-seok Defamation Case Over 'Sexual Bribery Allegations' to Criminal Division 1

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office assigned the case of former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok, who was sent on charges of false accusation related to allegations of sexual bribery, to the Criminal Division 1 (Chief Prosecutor Park Hyuk-soo) on the 14th.

Former leader Lee is accused of falsely accusing the Garosewo Research Institute (Gaseyeon) of making false allegations about sexual bribery against him. Last December, Gaseyeon revealed that Lee had received sexual bribery in 2013 from Kim Sung-jin, CEO of i-Kist. Lee denied this and filed a complaint against Gaseyeon cast members lawyer Kang Yong-seok and former reporter Kim Se-ui for defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act.

In response, Kim's legal representative, lawyer Kang Shin-up, filed a complaint for false accusation, stating, "Even though it was confirmed that former leader Lee received sexual favors, he sued Gaseyeon."

The police investigating former leader Lee concluded that the statute of limitations had expired for the sexual bribery charges and decided not to prosecute at the end of last month. However, they recognized the false accusation charges and transferred the case to the prosecution the day before.

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