Agadongsan, Netflix Lose Again in Second Trial of 'I Am God' Compensation Lawsuit

"Pay 300 Million Won in Compensation" Lost Damage Compensation Lawsuit
The Court Did Not Disclose the Reason for the Verdict Separately

The Netflix documentary "I Am God," released last March. [Source=Netflix]

The religious organization 'Agadongsan' lost again in the second trial of the damages lawsuit it filed against the documentary 'I Am God.'

On the 18th, the Seoul High Court Civil Division 13 (Presiding Judges Moon Gwangseop, Choi Seongbo, Lee Junhyeon) ruled against Agadongsan and its leader Kim Gisoon (83) in the appeal lawsuit demanding 300 million won in damages from the production company Netflix.

The court did not provide a separate explanation for the verdict in court. Previously, the first trial court ruled, "The suspicions raised in the video are sufficiently understandable," and "Although Mr. Kim may feel discomfort about the video, it cannot be considered an excessive, insulting, and contemptuous personal attack."

'I Am God' is an eight-episode documentary focusing on the leaders of four religious organizations, including Agadongsan, which caused a significant stir upon its release in March last year. Agadongsan reportedly filed the lawsuit taking issue with episodes 5 and 6, which covered Agadongsan. These episodes included allegations that Mr. Kim forced his followers into hard labor and, if they refused, made them subject to assault by other followers, resulting in death. Agadongsan protested, stating, "Although Mr. Kim was acquitted of murder and fraud charges in 1997, the broadcast content gives the impression that Mr. Kim's charges are guilty."

Previously, in 2001, Agadongsan also filed an injunction lawsuit against SBS's 'Unanswered Questions.' At that time, the court granted the injunction, preventing the broadcast of the relevant footage.