"Deceived by the Media"... Former Gwangju Education Office Official Files Damages Lawsuit

Dismissed for Leaking Private Kindergarten Purchase Documents
Claims 1.18 Billion Won from Reporter’s Company

Former Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education official A, who was dismissed after providing information related to the purchase of private kindergartens to a media outlet, has filed a damages lawsuit against the media company.

On June 20, Judge Lee Hwajin of the Gwangju District Court's Civil Division 9 held a hearing for the damages claim filed by A against a daily newspaper based in the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions. In March 2021, while serving as a level 5 official at the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education, A provided sensitive internal documents related to the project of converting private kindergartens to public ones to B, who was a reporter assigned to the office at the time.

Gwangju District Court. Photo by Song Bohyun

The materials handed over by A were later misused in a crime aimed at designating a specific kindergarten as a purchase target. A was indicted on charges of leaking official secrets and, in the first trial, was sentenced to four months in prison with a one-year suspension. A was dismissed in May of last year.

A argued, "I believed the statement that it was for reporting purposes and provided the documents without even reviewing their contents," adding, "It was not so much trust in the reporter personally, but rather trust in the media company the reporter belonged to that led me to hand over the materials." A is claiming a total of 1.18 billion won, including lost salary and reduced retirement pension due to the dismissal.

In response, the newspaper argued, "A has experience in public relations at the education office, and considering the timing and manner in which the materials were provided, it is difficult to see any deception," denying responsibility. The court has scheduled the verdict for August 22.

Meanwhile, A is also pursuing a separate administrative lawsuit seeking to overturn the dismissal by the metropolitan office of education. Reporter B was sentenced in the first trial to six months in prison and a fine of 2 million won for stealing confidential business information from the education office and demanding expenses under the pretext of solicitation.