Court Orders Seoul Voice to Pay 10 Million KRW to Kim Geon-hee for Disclosing Phone Conversation Content

First Lady Kim Geon-hee [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] First Lady Kim Keon-hee, wife of President Yoon Seok-yeol, won a partial victory in the first trial of a damages lawsuit she filed against internet media personnel who disclosed her phone conversation contents.

On the 10th, Judge Kim Ik-hwan of the Civil Division 201 at the Seoul Central District Court ruled in the lawsuit filed by Kim against Baek Eun-jong, CEO of Seoul Voice, and reporter Lee Myung-soo, ordering "the defendants to pay the plaintiff 10 million won." The damages awarded fell short of the 100 million won claimed by Kim. The court also ordered that litigation costs be divided with Kim bearing 90% and CEO Baek and reporter Lee bearing 10%.

Reporter Lee recorded a phone conversation with Kim in January last year ahead of the presidential election and disclosed it in collaboration with MBC. Kim filed a provisional injunction against MBC and Seoul Voice to prevent the release of the recording before the broadcast, but the court allowed the disclosure except for some parts. Subsequently, MBC and Seoul Voice each released the conversation contents. In response, Kim filed a lawsuit claiming that "illegal recording and broadcasts ignoring the court's provisional injunction violated her personal rights, honor, and privacy."

Immediately after the verdict, CEO Baek told reporters, "It seems Kim filed the lawsuit as a 'gag order.' We plan to appeal and take it to the Supreme Court." Kim's side said, "Regardless of the compensation amount, we believe it is significant that the opposing party's actions were found illegal," adding, "We will review the ruling and decide whether to appeal."