"Lee Jae-myung Calls Nephew's Family Massacre Dating Violence"... Bereaved Family's Compensation Lawsuit Finalized as Lost

During Last Presidential Election, SNS Described as "Dating Violence Felony"
Bereaved Family Who Lost Wife and Daughter Files 100 Million Claim Against Former Representative Lee

The bereaved family, whose wife and daughter were murdered by the nephew of former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, ultimately lost a damages lawsuit filed against Lee, claiming he described the family murder case as dating violence.

According to the legal community on the 12th, the Supreme Court's 2nd Division (Presiding Justice Shin Sook-hee) upheld the lower court ruling in the appeal trial of victim's family member A, who sued former leader Lee for 100 million won in damages, claiming "mental damage caused by defamation through false facts" in the so-called 'nephew murder case.'

Lee Jae-myung, former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is declaring his candidacy for party leader at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 10th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The court stated, "The appellant's grounds for appeal are clearly without merit, so the appeal is dismissed."

Lee's nephew, Kim, killed the woman he was dating and her mother with a weapon in May 2006 after the woman wanted to break up. The woman's father, A, escaped the crime but suffered serious injuries after jumping from the fifth floor of an apartment. Kim was tried and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Before the last presidential election, when it was brought to light that Lee had defended his nephew at the time, Lee wrote on social media on November 24, 2021, "One member of my family committed a serious crime of dating violence in the past, but since the family could not afford to hire a lawyer, I had no choice but to take on the defense."

In response, A filed a lawsuit against Lee seeking 100 million won. At the time, A's side argued, "Lee described the heinous and inhumane crime of the nephew's family murder case as 'dating violence,' thereby stating false facts."

However, the first-instance court ruled, "The term 'dating violence' is used to classify the type of crime based on the relationship characteristics between the perpetrator and the victim," and "It is difficult to see this as stating false facts by minimizing or distorting the damage," dismissing A's claim.

A appealed, but the second-instance court made the same judgment. The Supreme Court also found no problem with the second-instance court's ruling.