Governor Kim Jin-tae Loses Defamation Lawsuit Against KBS Over 'Sanbul Golf Suspicion' Report

Governor Kim Jin-tae of Gangwon Province filed a lawsuit seeking damages against a media outlet that reported he held golf practice and drinking sessions amid a wildfire in his jurisdiction last March, but he lost the case.

On the 16th, Judge Ji Eun-hee of the Civil Division 8 at the Seoul Southern District Court ruled against Kim in the lawsuit seeking 30 million won in damages from KBS and reporter A.

Jin-tae Kim, Governor of Gangwon Province

KBS reported in April of the same year that Governor Kim visited a golf practice range on March 31 last year, when wildfires broke out in Wonju and Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, and firefighting efforts were underway, and later had an evening drinking session with acquaintances.

In a statement at the time, Governor Kim apologized, saying, "Regardless of the reasons, it was inappropriate behavior during a wildfire crisis," but explained that the dinner took place after the wildfire was extinguished. He also claimed that the visit to the golf practice range was in the morning of the same day, before the wildfire.

Subsequently, Governor Kim filed a criminal complaint against KBS reporters for defamation and also filed a civil lawsuit, but both were dismissed.

Meanwhile, Governor Kim's side stated, "We cannot accept the ruling, which came before the criminal case was concluded," and added, "We will review the judgment and file an appeal."

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