Sister-in-law Who Spread 'Park Suhong Cohabitation Rumor' Says "I Was Not Rational"

"Living together, stayed at in-laws'... No witness"
"Daughter has panic symptoms... Under psychiatric treatment"

The fourth trial for Lee, the sister-in-law accused of defaming broadcaster Park Suhong (54), was held.

On the 12th, Judge Kang Young-gi of the Seoul Western District Court Criminal Division 9 presided over the fourth trial of Lee, who was indicted on charges of defamation under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Park's side filed a complaint last October, claiming that Lee spread false information in a KakaoTalk group chat, denying Park Suhong's claim that he and his brother embezzled money, and also spreading false facts such as "living with a woman during a broadcast appearance."

During the defendant's examination on this day, when the prosecution asked, "Have you ever witnessed the victim living together with someone?" Lee answered, "I have never witnessed it." When asked, "From whom did you hear about the cohabitation?" she said she heard it from her parents-in-law and claimed, "Around October 2019, when there was a filming of 'My Ugly Duckling,' I went to clean Park Suhong's house and saw women's shoes, a women's coat, and women's products."

When the prosecution asked, "Since Park appeared on 'My Ugly Duckling' at the time, didn't you consider that spreading the fact of living with a girlfriend would worsen public opinion?" Lee replied, "I didn't think that far."

Regarding the reason for claiming Park's cohabitation in the group chat, she tearfully said, "Comments on YouTube labeled him as an embezzler. My daughter was so distressed that she couldn't go to school," and added, "During the process of suffering mental damage, I wanted to tell acquaintances that it was not true."

About the embezzlement, she said, "(Regarding purchasing buildings, etc.) my husband did it, so I don't know the details," and "I don't remember exactly." When asked what connection there was between the embezzlement issue and the cohabitation issue, she answered, "My mind was so distressed that I couldn't think rationally."

Later, Lee appealed that her daughter is currently suffering mental pain. She said, "My daughter is very distressed. When she takes the subway, she experiences panic symptoms where she can't see ahead," and added, "She is undergoing psychiatric treatment and psychological counseling."

Meanwhile, Park Suhong's older brother and his wife are on trial for embezzling billions of won, including company funds and Park Suhong's personal funds, while managing Park Suhong's management exclusively from 2011 to 2021, on charges of embezzlement under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes.

The first trial found them guilty of embezzling 2 billion won of company money but acquitted them of the charge of pocketing about 1.6 billion won of Park's money, sentencing them to two years in prison. Lee, who was also indicted for participating in some embezzlement, was acquitted.

Both Park and Jin-hong's sides have appealed, and the second trial is ongoing.