Fine of 1 Million Won Imposed for Defamation Charge
"Considering the Nature of Expression, It Is Merely Speculation"
A store manager who spread rumors that a part-time worker and the kitchen manager working at the same cafe were having an affair was sentenced to a fine.
On the 21st, Judge Park Seong-min of the Chuncheon District Court Criminal Division 3 sentenced the store manager A (34) to a fine of 1 million won on charges of defamation. A was a store manager of a cafe in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province. He was brought to trial on charges of saying that the cafe kitchen manager and the part-time worker were suspected of dating or having slept together, even though they were not in an affair relationship in 2021. In particular, A told other cafe employees, "It seems like the part-time worker and the kitchen manager are in a relationship," and "Could it be that they slept together?"
During the trial, A's side claimed innocence, stating, "The defendant's remarks were merely expressions of opinion about the victims." However, the court stated, "Considering the circumstances under which the statements described in the indictment were conveyed to the victims and the degree of the defendant's expressions, it is difficult to view the defendant's remarks as mere speculation or opinion," and explained the sentencing reason by saying, "The sentence was determined in consideration of the degree of damage suffered by the victims and other sentencing factors." However, the court acquitted some charges, stating that "there is no evidence to recognize the crime based solely on the evidence submitted by the prosecution" regarding similar remarks A made to other employees.
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