Bereaved Family Who Sued Lee Jae-myung Over 'Dating Violence' Remark in Murder Case Loses

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 9th and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The victim's family, who lost their loved ones in a murder case committed by Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, in 2006, filed a lawsuit against Lee for referring to the case as 'dating violence,' but the court did not accept it.

On the morning of the 12th at 10 a.m., Judge Lee Yuhyung of Civil Division 28 at the Seoul Central District Court stated in the first trial of the damages claim lawsuit filed by the bereaved family member A against Lee, "The plaintiff's claim is dismissed. The plaintiff shall bear the litigation costs."

Previously, Lee’s nephew went to the house where his girlfriend lived in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, in May 2006, and stabbed his ex-girlfriend and her mother multiple times with a weapon, killing them. The Supreme Court confirmed a life sentence. At that time, A escaped by jumping from the veranda of a fifth-floor apartment and suffered serious injuries.

Lee served as the defense attorney in the first and second criminal trials of his nephew, the perpetrator, and reportedly argued for a reduced sentence by claiming he was in a state of diminished mental capacity.

Regarding this, Lee explained in November 2021, ahead of the presidential election, "One of my relatives committed a serious dating violence crime in the past, but since the family could not afford to hire a lawyer, I, the only lawyer in the family, had no choice but to take on the defense."

A filed a damages lawsuit seeking approximately 100 million won, claiming that Lee caused mental distress by referring to his nephew’s murder case as 'dating violence' on social media (SNS).

During the trial, Lee’s side submitted a written statement expressing "an apology to the plaintiff (bereaved family) for the thoughtless expression." They also argued, "Because the specific case was referred to in a condensed manner, the expression 'serious dating violence crime' was used," and "this expression does not contain facts or falsehoods constituting defamation."

However, A’s side pointed out, "(Lee) did not express a direct apology for 16 years," and "Although a representative submitted a written apology, it is appropriate for him to apologize personally."

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