Kim Eo-jun Faces One-Year Prison Sentence for 'Lee Dong-jae Defamation' Charges

Kim Eo-jun's Side Denies Charges, Calling Statements "Personal Opinion and Criticism"
First Trial Verdict Scheduled for July 14

The prosecution has requested a one-year prison sentence for broadcaster Kim Eo-jun, who has been put on trial on charges of defaming former Channel A reporter Lee Dong-jae.

Kim Eo-jun. Yonhap News Agency

During the final hearing held on May 15 at the Criminal Division 14 of the Seoul Northern District Court, the prosecution asked the court to sentence Kim to one year in prison for violating the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection (defamation charges).

Kim is accused of repeatedly making statements on radio programs and YouTube from April to October 2020, alleging that former reporter Lee Dong-jae coerced Lee Cheol, former CEO of Value Invest Korea, to "submit a false tip claiming to have given money to Yoo Si-min."

Kim’s legal team has denied the charges throughout the trial. His attorney argued that "the remarks were expressions of personal opinion and media criticism," and claimed that "there were circumstances that made it reasonable to believe the Facebook post by former lawmaker Choi Kang-wook was factual."

Previously, former reporter Lee Dong-jae filed a complaint against Kim in 2022. The police decided not to refer the case for prosecution due to insufficient evidence. However, after the prosecution requested a reinvestigation, the case was reopened, and in April last year, the prosecution indicted Kim and brought him to trial.

The controversial remarks were similar in content to a Facebook post made in 2020 by former Democratic Party lawmaker Choi Kang-wook. Last year, the Supreme Court upheld a fine of 10 million won against Choi for that post.

The prosecution believes that Kim broadcast false information that differed from the actual transcript for the purpose of slander. Hwang Hee-seok, former Supreme Council member of the Open Democratic Party, who made similar remarks, was also recently sentenced to a fine of 10 million won in the first trial.

Former reporter Lee Dong-jae stated, "It seems that an ordinary defamation case is finally reaching a conclusion after six years," adding, "Kim has not apologized or shown any remorse thus far."

The verdict in Kim’s first trial is scheduled to be delivered on July 14.

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