Kim Geon-hee's 'Julie Allegations' Raised: Former Open Sympathy TV CEO and 6 Others Sent to Prosecution

Seocho Police Station "Ongoing Investigation into Information and Communications Network Act Violation Complaint"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] Six individuals, including Jeong Cheonsu, former CEO of Yeollin Gonggam TV, who reported on allegations related to First Lady Kim Keon-hee, wife of President Yoon Seok-yeol, such as the 'Julie allegations,' have been referred to the prosecution.

On the 6th, the Seocho Police Station in Seoul transferred six people, including former CEO Jeong and reporters, to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on charges of violating the Information and Communications Network Act (defamation) and the Public Official Election Act (spreading false information). They are accused of raising suspicions that First Lady Kim used the stage name 'Julie' while working at a nightlife establishment in 1997.

Yeollin Gonggam TV reported in December last year the testimony of Ahn Haeuk, former president of the Korea Elementary School Taekwondo Association, stating, "In May 1997, I visited the Ramada Renaissance Hotel night club and was entertained in the 6th-floor banquet hall at the invitation of Cho Nam-wook, then chairman of Sambu Construction. There, I met CEO Kim Keon-hee, who was using the stage name 'Julie' at the time." They also raised related suspicions by investigating the mother of a prosecutor who was rumored to be cohabiting with First Lady Kim.

In response, the legal team of Yoon Seok-yeol's election campaign has filed multiple complaints against Yeollin Gonggam TV for violating the Public Official Election Act and defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act regarding the Julie allegations.

Regarding this, the police conducted raids on the offices of citizen media The Tam Sa on the 25th of last month and the 1st of this month, as well as on the homes of former Yeollin Gonggam TV CEO Jeong Cheonsu and affiliated reporters and PDs.

Meanwhile, the Seocho Police Station plans to continue investigating defamation cases under the Information and Communications Network Act that are unrelated to the statute of limitations.