Lawyer and Whistleblower Called 'Suspects in a Nationwide Fraud Scheme'
Court: "Representing Client's Position... Commonly Seen"
Soccer player Ki Sung-yueng (FC Seoul, 36) lost the first trial in a damages lawsuit filed by accusers who raised allegations of sexual violence against him, against the lawyer who represented Ki Sung-yueng.
According to the legal community on the 3rd, Judge Lee Geon-hee of the Civil Division 29 at the Seoul Central District Court ruled against plaintiffs A and B, who claimed they were sexually assaulted by Ki Sung-yueng during their elementary school years, in their damages claim lawsuit against Ki Sung-yueng’s lawyer.
They filed a 200 million KRW damages lawsuit in May 2021, alleging that lawyer Song Sang-yeop, who was Ki Sung-yueng’s legal representative, spread false information by describing them as 'suspects of a nationwide fraud drama' in a statement.
In the statement, lawyer Song wrote, "The suspect who claims to protect the public interest did not cooperate with requests to appear during the investigation period for almost two months after the investigation into Ki Sung-yueng, citing various reasons," and added, "The suspect of the nationwide fraud drama claims in media interviews that they made a big decision to expose sexual violence 'for the public good.' However, the suspect still hides their face and alters their voice."
Regarding this, the court ruled that the lawyer’s statement defamed A and B but considered it part of the legal representative’s duties.
The court stated, "Ki Sung-yueng’s position is that he never committed sexual violence and that the plaintiffs are lying," and judged that "although the expression 'suspect of a nationwide fraud drama' is provocative, it represents the client’s position."
It further explained, "It is common for a lawyer defending a client accused of sexual violence to refute the victim’s claims of sexual assault as lies."
Meanwhile, A and B claimed in February 2021 that they were sexually assaulted by Ki Sung-yueng and senior players while playing on a soccer team at an elementary school in Jeonnam from January to June 2000.
Ki Sung-yueng responded by stating, "Such a thing never happened. I stake my soccer career on this," and filed a criminal complaint against them for defamation by false facts. He also filed a damages lawsuit seeking 500 million KRW.
The police decided not to prosecute in August last year due to insufficient evidence. At that time, the police stated that there was also "insufficient evidence" regarding whether Ki Sung-yueng committed sexual violence.
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