Handonghun Files 200 Million Won Damage Suit Against Hwang Heeseok and TBS for 'Prosecutors Tracking Roh Moo-hyun Foundation Accounts'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Han Dong-hoon, Deputy Director of the Judicial Research and Training Institute (Chief Prosecutor), has filed a lawsuit seeking damages worth hundreds of millions of won against Hwang Hee-seok, Supreme Council Member of the Open Democratic Party, and TBS Traffic Broadcasting, who claimed that the prosecution "opened the accounts of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation to catch former Roh Moo-hyun Foundation Chairman Yoo Si-min and influence the general election."

According to the legal community on the 4th, Prosecutor Han filed a lawsuit on the 31st of last month at the Seoul Central District Court, claiming a total of 200 million won in damages from Supreme Council Member Hwang and TBS.

Supreme Council Member Hwang appeared on TBS's YouTube channel 'Yujeong Dabang in front of the National Assembly' in November last year and claimed, "(The prosecution) tracked the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation accounts from September to October 2019, opened all transaction details, and in the process, shared information with a Channel A reporter through SillaJen to catch former Chairman Yoo, so-called collusion between prosecution and media."

At that time in 2019, Prosecutor Han was the head of the Anti-Corruption and Strong Crime Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. He filed the damages suit, stating that such claims were defamatory due to the spread of false information. It was confirmed through investigation that there was no account tracking of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation or former Chairman Yoo. He also filed a complaint against Supreme Council Member Hwang at the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul last month, stating that former Chairman Yoo is currently on trial for defamation related to this matter.