"Looking for the Child Who Didn't Pay"... Unmanned Store Owner Who Released Face Photo Faces Defamation Charges

A business owner who was sued for defamation after posting a photo of a child taking items without paying at an unmanned store was found guilty.

On the 28th, Judge Gong Woo-jin of the Incheon District Court Criminal Division 14 announced that he sentenced Ms. A (43, female), the owner of an unmanned stationery store, to a fine of 300,000 won for defamation by stating facts.

In November 2022, Ms. A was brought to trial on charges of defamation after posting a photo of a CCTV screen showing a customer's face at her unmanned stationery store located in Jung-gu, Incheon. The photo posted in the store at the time also captured a young customer putting items into their bag.

Ms. A wrote, "Looking for the child who took one figure (model doll) worth 23,000 won and 11 Pok?mon cards without paying four days ago. If you know this child, please contact me," leaving her phone number as well.

The court stated, "The defendant defamed the victim by stating facts," and added, "If the fine is not paid, the defendant will be detained in a labor camp for three days, calculated at 100,000 won per day."

Unmanned store. The photo is not directly related to the article content. [Asia Economy file photo]