Cho Kuk Partially Wins 'Illegal Surveillance' Compensation Lawsuit in 2nd Trial... Compensation Reduced from 50 Million to 10 Million Won

Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, who filed a lawsuit against the state claiming that the National Intelligence Service (NIS) illegally surveilled him during the Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye administrations, won partially in the appellate court. However, the compensation the state must pay Cho was reduced from the original 50 million won to 10 million won.

On the 10th, the Seoul Central District Court Civil Appeals Division 5 (Presiding Judge Han Sook-hee) ruled in the appeal of Cho’s damages claim against the state, ordering the state to pay Cho 10 million won in damages. Litigation costs were to be borne by the plaintiff and defendant respectively.

Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk / Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Previously, the first trial court stated, "The actions of the NIS were carried out by a public official prohibited from political involvement, who used secrecy to intentionally and systematically violate the plaintiff’s human rights," and ruled, "Considering the duration, content, and severity of the illegal acts, it is appropriate to set the damages at 50 million won."

The appellate court also partially recognized the state’s liability for compensation but reduced the amount of damages compared to the first trial. Cho did not appear in court on the day of the ruling.

Earlier, Cho filed a lawsuit in June 2021 seeking 200 million won in damages against the state, claiming that the NIS had surveilled him from 2011 to 2016.

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