1st Trial "Hostile Relationship with Victim... Defamation Intent Recognized"
Lee Geun (40), a former Navy lieutenant, was fined for posting insulting comments online about YouTuber Gu Jae-yeok (real name Lee Jun-hee) and the late Kim Yong-ho.
On the 22nd, Judge Jeong Jae-yong of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 21 sentenced Lee to a fine of 5 million won on charges of insult and defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act.
Lee is accused of posting insulting remarks about YouTuber Gu Jae-yeok and Kim Yong-ho on social networking services (SNS) from August 2021 to December 2022. He criticized Gu Jae-yeok using expressions such as "obese loser," "incompetent homebound (cyber) wrecker," and "parasite." He was also charged with defamation for posting a message urging to "stop stalking female influencers." Regarding Kim Yong-ho, a YouTuber and former entertainment reporter, Lee is accused of posting insulting comments calling him a "parasite who exposes public figures."
During the trial, Lee admitted to the insult charges but denied the defamation charges, claiming that the content was not false and that he had no intention to slander.
However, Judge Jeong rejected Lee’s claims, stating, "The defendant stated false facts based on vague information received from third parties or uncertain circumstances," and "Considering the very hostile relationship between the defendant and Mr. A, there was also an intention to slander."
Lee was also prosecuted for punching Mr. A once in the face during an altercation on his way out of court on March 20 last year. He was fined 5 million won in the first trial and is currently undergoing the second trial.
On the 18th, Lee was sentenced in the appellate court to 1 year and 6 months in prison with a 3-year probation for illegally entering Ukraine, which is at war with Russia. It was previously reported that in March 2022, without permission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to use his passport, he entered Ukraine despite a Level 4 travel advisory (travel ban) and joined the foreign unit "Territorial Defense Forces International Brigade." He was injured on the battlefield and returned to Korea two months later for treatment, voluntarily appearing before the police.
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