'Kim Gun-hee Call Recording Release' Seoul Voice Confirmed to Pay 10 Million Won Compensation

Ahead of the Presidential Election, Mrs. Kim Geon-hee's 7-Hour Long Phone Conversation Released

In the lead-up to the last presidential election, the lower court ruling ordering the internet media outlet 'Seoul's Voice' officials who disclosed phone call contents with First Lady Kim Geon-hee, wife of President Yoon Seok-yeol, to pay her 10 million won in damages has been finalized by the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court's First Division (Presiding Justice Oh Kyung-mi) on the 25th affirmed the lower court's partial plaintiff victory ruling in the damages lawsuit filed by Kim against Baek Eun-jong, CEO of Seoul's Voice, and reporter Lee Myung-soo.

Seoul Voice reporter Lee Myung-su attending the first trial sentencing [Image source=Yonhap News]

Reporter Lee claimed to have recorded a seven-hour phone conversation with Kim in January 2022, ahead of the presidential election, and announced plans to release it through MBC. Kim filed an injunction against MBC and Seoul's Voice to prevent the release of the recording before the broadcast, but the court allowed the release except for some parts.

When MBC and Seoul's Voice actually disclosed the call contents, Kim filed a damages lawsuit seeking about 100 million won, stating that the illegal recording and the broadcast ignoring the court's injunction infringed on her personal rights, honor, and privacy. Seoul's Voice argued it was "legitimate journalistic coverage."

The first and second instance courts ruled that the reporters jointly pay Kim 10 million won in damages. Seoul's Voice appealed, but on this day, the Supreme Court found no problem with the lower court's conclusion and finalized the ruling by summary dismissal without substantive review.

Earlier, after the first trial verdict, the Presidential Office announced that Kim planned to waive the entire 10 million won.