"Pay 20 Million Won"...Heeyoung Kim, 'Chey Taewon’s Partner', Partially Wins Damages Suit Against Cyber Wrecker

Court Orders 20 Million Won in Damages for Defamation

YouTuber Admitted Spreading Falsehoods but Appeals Ruling

Heeyoung Kim, Chairperson of T&C Foundation and the domestic partner of SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, has partially won a damages lawsuit against the operator of a YouTube channel known as a "cyber wrecker" (a person who profits by creating sensationalized content about controversial incidents), who posted videos defaming her with false information.

Heeyoung Kim, Chairperson of T&C Foundation. Podo Museum

On May 12, Judge Lee Junghoon, presiding judge of the Civil Division 6 at the Seoul Western District Court, announced that in the damages lawsuit filed by Chairperson Kim against YouTube channel operator A, the court ordered A to pay 20 million won to Kim. Of the 30 million won claimed by Kim, the court recognized 20 million won and interest for delayed payment and dismissed the remainder.

Judge Lee stated, "Defamation using the internet spreads rapidly to an unspecified number of people," and added, "Once false information has been disseminated, criminal punishment or damages alone cannot easily restore the victim's social reputation." He continued, "It appears that the defendant profited by increasing channel subscribers and views through the video." However, he also considered the fact that the video was deleted and the channel was shut down.

Previously, it was revealed that in August 2024, A posted two videos containing false claims about Chairperson Kim and her mother on the YouTube channel they operated. The videos included allegations that Kim fabricated acts of charity and that her mother had an extramarital affair with a married man.

In September of the same year, Kim filed a criminal complaint against A for defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act.

A has appealed the verdict, so a second trial will be held. The hearing date has not yet been set.

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