Handonghun Files 500 Million Won Damage Claim Against Yusimin... "I Will Accept Any Form of Accountability" Yusimin's Response Draws Attention

Yoo Si-min, Chairman of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation. (Photo by Roh Moo-hyun Foundation YouTube capture)/Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] Prosecutor Han Dong-hoon has filed a lawsuit seeking damages against Yoo Si-min, director of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, who spread false information claiming that Han had inspected the foundation's accounts at the end of 2019 while serving as head of the Anti-Corruption and Strong Crime Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.

Han's side stated, "Prosecutor Han was unjustly stigmatized as a public official who illegally used his official authority for personal revenge by Director Yoo," adding, "Not only Prosecutor Han but also many citizens who were deceived by Yoo's fake news for a long time are victims. Therefore, legal action today is inevitable to prevent the recurrence of such fake news."

On the 9th, Prosecutor Han filed a lawsuit at the Seoul Central District Court seeking 500 million won in damages against Director Yoo.

Han's side explained, "The lawsuit seeks damages for the malicious fake news spread by Director Yoo over about a year and a half, claiming that 'Prosecutor Han tracked Yoo Si-min's related accounts at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's Anti-Corruption Division at the end of November or early December 2019 for a background check on me.'

Han's side pointed out, "Despite multiple official denials by Prosecutor Han from September 2019 to December 15, 2020, Director Yoo repeatedly spread this false information on his YouTube broadcast 'Yoo Si-min's Alileo' (December 2019), MBC's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' exclusive interview (on the morning of July 24, 2020, the day of the Prosecutorial Investigation Deliberation Committee on Han), Sisa Journal exclusive interview (August 11, 2020), and the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation special broadcast 'I Want to See Us Together' (December 15, 2020)," adding, "Such 'fake news' was infinitely propagated through social networking services (SNS) and others."

They continued, "Prosecutor Han was unjustly labeled as a public official who illegally used his official authority for personal revenge by Director Yoo," and "Director Yoo only admitted the falsehood in January this year after being asked to provide evidence by the media and civil society."

Han's side emphasized, "Director Yoo must clarify whether he alone fabricated the fake news or if someone provided false information to exploit his influence, as in the past false reports by KBS about Prosecutor Han, and explain the circumstances under which he continued to tell specific and confident lies for a long time."

They also added, "A criminal case regarding the dissemination of false information about Director Yoo is already under investigation following a complaint by another party, so we will submit a written statement expressing the victim's position to the prosecution."

Earlier, the Action Alliance for Restoring the Rule of Law (Beopse-ryeon) accused Director Yoo of spreading false information about Prosecutor Han and filed a complaint against him last August for defamation and leaking official secrets. The case is currently under investigation at the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office.

In December 2019, Director Yoo stated on his YouTube broadcast 'Yoo Si-min's Alileo,' "Although I will not disclose how I confirmed it for now, I confirmed that the prosecution looked into the main bank account of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation."

Afterward, Director Yoo continued raising suspicions, appearing on radio broadcasts and saying, "At the time when I was hosting Alileo during the Cho Kuk incident, Han Dong-hoon, then head of the Anti-Corruption and Strong Crime Division, monitored in real-time at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office," and "It's a lie to say there was no interest. So they said, 'We can't leave this as it is. Let's find something,' and it seems they also looked into the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation's accounts..."

On July 24 last year, when the prosecution's Channel A case investigation deliberation committee was held, he pointed to Prosecutor Han, who was suspected of involvement in the Channel A case, saying on a radio broadcast, "It is highly likely that the Anti-Corruption and Strong Crime Division, where Han Dong-hoon was, looked into the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation's accounts."

However, on January 22, Director Yoo issued a statement through the foundation, saying, "Everyone has the right to raise suspicions, but when exercising that right, they must bear the burden of proof," and "However, I failed to prove the suspicions I raised. I judge that those suspicions were not true."

He added, "Above all, I sincerely apologize to all prosecution officials for raising suspicions that were not true and caused suspicion that the prosecution surveilled me," and "I do not think an apology alone is sufficient, and I will humbly accept any form of accountability."

On the same day that Director Yoo admitted his mistake, Prosecutor Han issued a statement in the afternoon, saying, "Despite my repeated clarifications, Director Yoo has repeatedly spread specific false propaganda against me over the past year," and "I have already suffered great damage, and the public who believed Director Yoo's lies have also suffered significant harm."

At that time, Prosecutor Han also said, "Director Yoo appeared on a broadcast on the morning of July 24 last year, the day of my investigation deliberation committee, and made specific lies targeting me," adding, "He intended to incite the public by saying, 'Since Yoo Si-min publicly named Han Dong-hoon and specified the timing on the broadcast, it must be true,' and to negatively influence my investigation deliberation committee."

He continued, "Director Yoo did not lie out of ignorance but used his enormous influence to slander me," and stated his position, "I will consider necessary measures regarding the damage already caused."