Lee Cheol in 'Suspicion of Collusion Between Prosecution and Media', Fined 4 Million Won for Threat Charges

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] Lee Cheol, former CEO of Value Invest Korea (VIK), who claims to be a victim of the 'alleged collusion between prosecutors and media,' has reportedly been sentenced to a fine for charges of intimidation.

According to the legal community on the 30th, in December of last year, the Supreme Court's First Division (Presiding Justice Kim Seonsu) upheld the original ruling that sentenced Lee, who was prosecuted for intimidating a woman with whom he had an extramarital relationship and her family, to a fine of 4 million won.

Lee was accused of threatening his former partner in 2017, demanding the return of money he had previously given her. Both the first and second trials recognized Lee's guilt and ruled him guilty. Lee appealed, but the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal.

The court stated, "After demanding the return of several hundred million won by referring to the living expenses paid, he warned that if the demand was not met, he would harm the victim and her family physically," adding, "This cannot be tolerated by social norms."

Meanwhile, former Channel A reporter Lee Dongjae is currently on trial for allegedly threatening Lee Cheol to provide tips on Yoon Si-min, chairman of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, while investigating the ShillaJen scandal last year.