Prosecution Indicts Kim Eo-jun on Defamation Charges Related to Former Reporter Lee Dong-jae

Broadcaster Kim Eo-jun, who was accused of repeatedly spreading false information about former Channel A reporter Lee Dong-jae, has been prosecuted without detention.

The Criminal Division 4 of the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Song Jeong-eun) announced on the 30th that Kim was prosecuted without detention on charges of defamation by publication and violation of the Information and Communications Network Act (defamation).

Kim is accused of repeatedly making false statements on radio broadcasts and YouTube from around April 2020 to October of the same year, claiming that "former reporter Lee coerced former SillaJen CEO Lee Cheol to falsely report that he gave money to Yoo Si-min during the investigation process."

Former reporter Lee filed a complaint against Kim in February 2022, alleging that Kim spread false information about him, but the case was dismissed in October of the same year due to insufficient evidence. Subsequently, the prosecution requested a reinvestigation of the case, and the police sent Kim to the prosecution in September last year.

Kim's statements are identical to the content posted by former lawmaker Choi Kang-wook on his Facebook in April 2020, titled "Summary of Channel A reporter's remarks in letters and transcripts." Former lawmaker Choi appealed after being fined 10 million won in the second trial in January for defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act.

The prosecution judged that, considering ▲ the complaint filed by former reporter Lee ▲ the fact that former lawmaker Choi was convicted for posting false information on Facebook ▲ and the full content of the actual transcript, Kim broadcast clear false information with the intent to defame former reporter Lee, which exceeds the scope of freedom of expression and permissible criticism guaranteed by law and is illegal.