Police Launch Investigation on Defamation Charges
Civil Lawsuits Filed, Including Requests for Identification from Google
It has been confirmed that Chey Taewon, Chairman of SK Group, is in the process of filing lawsuits against YouTubers who posted defamatory videos about him and his partner, Kim Heeyoung, CEO of the T&C Foundation. On September 16, Yonhap News reported that "the Yongsan Police Station in Seoul is investigating more than ten YouTubers who were sued last October by Chairman Chey and others for alleged violations of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection (defamation)." Chairman Chey claims that these individuals have repeatedly spread and amplified false and malicious information regarding Kim’s past and her family.
Among the YouTubers sued, it is reported that some are creators known for producing videos mocking celebrities. Chairman Chey is said to have asserted that these individuals have been amplifying and reproducing false and malicious information about himself and CEO Kim. In addition to these lawsuits, he has also filed a separate civil suit for damages at the Seoul Western District Court. Notably, he has requested pretrial discovery procedures in a U.S. court against Google, the operator of YouTube. Through this process, he was able to identify some of the YouTubers and submit their information as additional evidence to the police and other authorities. Previously, in 2021, Chairman Chey’s side had also filed a defamation complaint against a YouTube channel that broadcast false information about himself and his partner, CEO Kim.
'Divorce of the Century' Draws Attention... Final Ruling Expected This Year
Meanwhile, the so-called "divorce of the century" lawsuit between Chairman Chey and Noh Soyoung, Director of Art Center Nabi, is being reviewed by the Supreme Court’s Grand Bench, with speculation that a final decision could be reached within the year. With the astronomical sum of 1.3808 trillion won at stake for asset division, the legal and business communities are closely watching the outcome. According to legal sources on September 15, the Supreme Court’s Grand Bench is expected to discuss the key issues of the appeal trial between Chairman Chey and Director Noh on September 18.
Currently, the case has been assigned to the First Division of the Supreme Court (Presiding Justice Seo Kyunghwan), but due to its significance, it has reportedly been designated as a "report case," meaning all justices will review the issues together. As a result, the justices convening for the Grand Bench session on September 18 are expected to exchange opinions and determine the direction of the review. With legal circles suggesting that the justices have already examined the case in detail, there is growing speculation that the final ruling is imminent, regardless of whether it is formally referred to the Grand Bench. The main issue in this appeal is whether the asset division amount of 1.3808 trillion won, as decided in the appellate court, will be upheld. The Supreme Court plans to examine the legality of the calculation process for the asset division amount.
The key issue is the valuation process of SK Inc. shares. The appellate court made a correction to the value of Daehan Telecom shares, which formed the basis of its ruling, changing it from 100 won per share to 1,000 won per share. However, even after correcting the calculation error, the division ratio of "65% for Chairman Chey, 35% for Director Noh" and the total amount of 1.3808 trillion won remained unchanged, sparking controversy. If the Supreme Court determines this as grounds for reversal, the asset division amount could be significantly reduced.
Another major point of interest is the nature of the 30 billion won in slush funds associated with former President Roh Tae-woo. The appellate court viewed this slush fund as having contributed to the growth of SK Group and used it as a key basis for significantly recognizing Director Noh's contribution. Chairman Chey’s side argues that there is insufficient concrete evidence that the 30 billion won actually flowed into the company, and instead claims that SK Group was discriminated against during the Sixth Republic era because it was an "in-law company." Critics warn that recognizing illegal slush funds as a contribution subject to asset division could set a precedent for effectively allowing the inheritance of illicit funds. Since this slush fund is currently the subject of investigation and recovery by the state, the Supreme Court’s decision is expected to have significant social repercussions.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
