Court Orders Lee Myung-bak and Won Sei-hoon to Compensate Moon Sung-geun and Others Affected by the 'Blacklist'

Court: "MB and Former NIS Director Won Se-hoon to Pay 5 Million Won to Each Plaintiff"

A court ruling has determined that former President Lee Myung-bak and former National Intelligence Service Director Won Sei-hoon must compensate individuals who were placed on the cultural and artistic sector 'blacklist' during Lee's administration.

The Seoul Central District Court Civil Division 20 (Presiding Judge Lee Sera) ruled on the 17th in a damages lawsuit filed by 36 plaintiffs, including actor Moon Sung-geun and broadcaster Kim Mi-hwa, ordering "former President Lee and former Director Won to jointly pay each plaintiff 5 million won." However, the court dismissed the claims filed by Moon and others against the state.

Previously, the National Intelligence Service announced the results of an internal investigation revealing that in September 2017, during the Moon Jae-in administration, a 'Left-wing Entertainer Response Task Force' had been created during the Lee Myung-bak government to purge broadcasters critical of the government. In response, Moon and others filed a lawsuit in November 2017, claiming they suffered mental and material damages after being placed on the blacklist.

A total of 82 individuals were named on the blacklist, including ▲ 6 cultural figures such as Lee Oi-su, Jo Jung-rae, and Jin Joong-kwon ▲ 8 actors including Moon Sung-geun, Myung Kye-nam, and Kim Min-seon ▲ 52 film directors such as Lee Chang-dong, Park Chan-wook, and Bong Joon-ho ▲ 8 broadcasters including Kim Mi-hwa, Kim Gu-ra, and Kim Je-dong ▲ 8 singers such as Yoon Do-hyun, Shin Hae-chul, and Kim Jang-hoon.