Former partner A, who was indicted for falsely accusing actor Baek Yoon-sik, was sentenced to a suspended prison term in the first trial.
On the 22nd, Judge Baek Woo-hyun of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 6 sentenced A, who was charged with false accusation, to one year in prison with a two-year suspension. Additionally, A was ordered to perform 120 hours of community service.
Judge Baek stated, "Considering all circumstances, it is reasonable to conclude that A had a definite intent to falsely accuse Baek at the time of filing the complaint," and added, "A claimed that Baek forged the settlement agreement to avoid civil liabilities, which is a false accusation, and the nature of the crime is very serious."
He further said, "Baek, who was at risk of criminal punishment due to A's actions, likely suffered considerable mental distress until the false accusation was revealed."
Earlier, A was brought to trial on charges of false accusation related to a civil lawsuit that arose after publishing a book about personal matters with Baek in 2022. A accused Baek of forging a settlement agreement containing a 'non-disclosure of private matters' clause and submitting it as evidence in court. However, the prosecution determined that A had personally drafted an agreement in the past stating that all disputes with Baek would not be disclosed externally and that violations would result in compensation.
A, a former broadcast journalist, published an essay in 2022 detailing the meeting and breakup process with Baek.
Meanwhile, Baek filed a lawsuit against the publishing company’s CEO to prohibit the publication and sale, claiming that A violated the settlement agreement. Baek won partial victories in both the first and second trials. The case is currently under appeal.
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