The Seoul Voice and its affiliated reporter who disclosed the contents of a phone call with First Lady Kim Keon-hee, wife of President Yoon Suk-yeol, lost again in the second trial of the damages lawsuit filed by Mrs. Kim.
On the 7th, the 7-1 Civil Appeals Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Kim Yeon-hwa, Judges Joo Jin-am and Lee Jeong-hyung) dismissed both parties' appeals in the damages lawsuit appeal filed by Mrs. Kim against Baek Eun-jong, CEO of Seoul Voice, and reporter Lee Myung-soo, upholding the first trial ruling that recognized a damages liability of 10 million won.
Last January, ahead of the presidential election, reporter Lee claimed to have recorded a phone call with Mrs. Kim and announced plans to disclose it in collaboration with MBC.
Mrs. Kim filed a provisional injunction against MBC and Seoul Voice to prevent the release of the recording before the broadcast, but the court issued a decision allowing disclosure except for some parts.
Subsequently, MBC and Seoul Voice each disclosed the contents of the call, and Mrs. Kim filed a lawsuit claiming 100 million won in damages, stating that "illegal recording and broadcasting ignoring the court's provisional injunction decision infringed on my personality rights, honor rights, and privacy rights."
The first trial court pointed out that reporter Lee promised to keep the call contents confidential and told Mrs. Kim that he would not record, but actually recorded and reported the call contents, and judged that it infringed on Mrs. Kim's voice rights and the constitutional fundamental rights of privacy and freedom of private life, ordering Seoul Voice and reporter Lee to pay 10 million won in compensation.
The appellate court referred the case to mediation in May, but the mediation was not successful.
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