Kim Eui-gyeom Ordered to Pay Damages to Han Donghoon Over "Cheongdam-dong Drinking Party Allegations"

Former People Power Party leader Han Donghoon has partially won a damages lawsuit in the first trial against Kim Eui-gyeom, head of the Saemangeum Development Authority, who raised the so-called "Cheongdam-dong drinking party allegations."

Handonghun, the People Power Party presidential primary candidate, is attending the 5th party convention for the selection of the 21st presidential election candidate held at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province on May 3, 2025. Photo by Yoon Dongjoo

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On August 13, the Civil Agreement Division 14 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Jung Hajung) ruled partially in favor of Han in his lawsuit seeking 1 billion won in damages against Kim, as well as Kang Jingu, former head of the YouTube media outlet "Simineollon The Tamsa," and others. The compensation amount was set at 80 million won.

The court stated, "We find that the facts alleged by the defendants, as claimed by the plaintiff, are false," and ordered Kim, Kang, and three other defendants to pay a total of 70 million won jointly, while the initial informant, identified as Mr. Lee, was ordered to pay 10 million won.

The Cheongdam-dong drinking party allegations refer to suspicions that, between the night of July 19 and the early morning of July 20, 2022, President Yoon and former leader Han, along with 30 lawyers from Kim & Chang law firm, attended a drinking party with a cello performance at a bar in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam District. Kim raised these allegations during a National Assembly audit in October 2022.

The allegations Kim raised during the audit were not prosecuted due to parliamentary immunity for lawmakers, but he was indicted for broadcasting the claims on YouTube and is currently undergoing a first trial. Kang was also brought to trial on charges of defaming President Yoon and Han under the Information and Communications Network Act, after covering the allegations a total of 19 times on YouTube between October 2022 and January 2023.

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