Police Rule Evidence Insufficient
Lawyer Announces Countersuit Over "Retaliatory Acts"
The police have decided not to prosecute in the case where professional basketball player Heo Woong (32, KCC) sued his ex-girlfriend's lawyer. Heo's side claimed that the lawyer encouraged his ex-girlfriend to accuse him of sexual assault, but the police determined that there was insufficient evidence. No Jongun, the lawyer who was cleared of the charges (Law Firm Jonjae), stated, "I will ensure that those responsible for false accusations and retaliatory threats are held legally accountable."
On June 5, Yonhap News reported, "The Gangnam Police Station in Seoul recently decided not to prosecute No Jongun, who was accused by Heo Woong's side of instigating false accusations and defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act, citing insufficient evidence and a lack of direct relevance to Heo Woong's reputation, respectively."
The police have decided not to prosecute in the case where professional basketball player Heo Woong (32, KCC) sued his ex-girlfriend's lawyer. Heo's side claimed that the lawyer encouraged his ex-girlfriend to accuse him of sexual assault, but the police judged that the evidence was insufficient. Yonhap News
Previously, at the end of June last year, Heo Woong filed a complaint against his ex-girlfriend, identified as A, accusing her of blackmail and attempted intimidation, claiming that she demanded hundreds of millions of won by threatening to expose his private life. A countersued Heo Woong for quasi-rape and injury, but this case was also closed without prosecution. Subsequently, Heo Woong's side asserted that lawyer No Jongun persuaded A to file a complaint against Heo Woong, even though he knew that Heo Woong had not committed sexual violence, by telling her that "if her statements were consistent and credible, rape charges would be recognized."
The police stated, "It was confirmed that No Jongun drafted and submitted the complaint exactly as A testified," and added, "There is no evidence whatsoever that No Jongun induced or encouraged the commission of a crime; A made her own decisions." The police further explained, "Rather, it appears that No Jongun believed A's consistent statements and, after providing legal counsel, drafted and submitted the complaint as her legal representative. Based solely on the evidence submitted by Heo Woong's side, it cannot be concluded that No Jongun incited A to sue Heo Woong." Regarding the defamation charge, the police also decided not to prosecute, explaining that the complaint, which was based on the relationship between Heo Woong's legal representative and a YouTuber, did not constitute the dissemination of false information and was unlikely to have substantially damaged Heo Woong's reputation.
No Jongun stated, "This incident was a farce orchestrated to falsely accuse me. This is not merely a matter of misconduct by Heo Woong's lawyer, but, according to Supreme Court precedent, an act that puts even Heo Woong at risk of false accusation." He continued, "Heo Woong's side threatened A by leveraging the possibility of exposing her private life and attempted to persuade her by mentioning 'leniency,' thereby securing a recording of her consultation with her lawyer. This constitutes retaliatory threats under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes." He added, "I will pursue civil and criminal action for false accusations and retaliatory threats against all parties involved in this case, including Heo Woong's lawyer. I also want to make it clear in advance that there will be no possibility of leniency in the future."
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