Prosecution Seeks 10-Month Prison Sentence for Choi Kang-wook in Lee Dong-jae's 'Defamation' Case

Prosecutors: "Victim Falsely Accused and Defamed, Sufficient Evidence for Defamation Purpose"
Choi Kang-wook: "Prosecutors and Media Collusion, Crushing One Person for a Specific Purpose"

The prosecution requested a 10-month prison sentence in the appellate trial for former Democratic Party lawmaker Choi Kang-wook, who was acquitted in the first trial on charges of defaming former Channel A reporter Lee Dong-jae.

Former Choi Kang-wook, former member of the Democratic Party of Korea./Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

At the sentencing hearing for former lawmaker Choi held on the 15th, presided over by the 5-2 Criminal Appeals Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Chief Judges Choi Tae-young, Jung Deok-su, and Koo Kwang-hyun), the prosecution asked the court to sentence him to 10 months in prison.

The prosecution argued, "The defendant intentionally spread false information widely, making the victim appear as an instigator of false accusations," and added, "Considering the defendant's unfavorable feelings toward Channel A, the purpose of defamation is clearly recognized."

Former reporter Lee Dong-jae, who appeared at the trial that day, also stated, "Defendant Choi Kang-wook is a repeat offender who has committed numerous shameless crimes and a harmful person who destroys society with fake news," and requested, "Please isolate the defendant from society, who harshly criticized me without any remorse after the first trial, saying 'a thief waving a club around'." He also submitted a petition for severe punishment to the court.

In his final statement, former lawmaker Choi said, "I dare say there was an intention to trample on one person and make them a criminal for a specific purpose through collusion between the prosecution and the media," and requested, "Please wisely judge the essence of this case and the frame persistently pursued by the prosecution during the process of distortion and alteration."

Former lawmaker Choi was indicted on charges of claiming on social media in April 2020 that "former Channel A reporter Lee Dong-jae told former Value Invest Korea (VIK) CEO Lee Cheol to 'turn a blind eye and say you handed money to Yoo Si-min,' and 'search Yoo Si-min's house and family, as well as the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, where Yoo Si-min serves as chairman.'"

The first trial acquitted former lawmaker Choi, ruling that there was no defamatory intent under the Information and Communications Network Act. In response, the prosecution added the charge of defamation under the Criminal Act as a subsidiary charge in the appellate trial by changing the indictment. Defamation under the Criminal Act covers a broader scope, including punishment for defamation by stating false facts. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 17 next year.