Na Kyung-won Loses Again in 2nd Trial for Defamation Suit Against Ahn Jin-geol Over 'Jeong Bong-ju Bribery' Remarks

Former People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Former lawmaker Na Kyung-won lost again in the second trial after filing a lawsuit for damages against the head of a civic group for spreading false information about her.

The 8-2 Criminal Appeals Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judges Kim Bong-gyu, Jang Yoon-seon, Kim Ye-young) ruled on the 10th that former lawmaker Na's lawsuit against Ahn Jin-geol, director of the Minsheng Economic Research Institute, claiming 30,000,100 won in damages, was dismissed as in the first trial.

In December 2019, Director Ahn stated on an internet broadcast that "Former lawmaker Na Kyung-won asked then-Assembly Education Committee Secretary Jung Bong-ju in 2005 to exclude the private school foundation run by her father from the Ministry of Education's audit." He also contributed an article with the same content to an online newspaper.

In response, former lawmaker Na filed a lawsuit for damages against Director Ahn in January of the following year, denying that she had made such a request to former lawmaker Jung.

In December 2021, the first trial court ruled in favor of Director Ahn, stating that "it is difficult to see that the defendant stated false facts."

Meanwhile, former lawmaker Jung was also sued for defamation by former lawmaker Na after giving an interview to the media in 2011, saying that "at the time, I could only interpret Na's words as a request," but the prosecution decided not to indict.

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