Former Democratic Party lawmaker Ahn Minseok, who raised allegations of "overseas asset concealment" against Choi Seowon (formerly known as Choi Soon-sil), has appealed a court ruling ordering him to pay 20 million won in damages.
According to the legal community on December 10, Ahn submitted an appeal to the Civil Division 3-2 of the Seoul Southern District Court (Presiding Judges: Heo Ilsung, Song Seungwoo, and Lee Jongchae) on December 8.
Previously, in the retrial of the damages lawsuit filed by Choi Seowon against former lawmaker Ahn Minseok, the court partially ruled in favor of the plaintiff, ordering the defendant to pay 20 million won in damages.
The court determined that, as stated by the Supreme Court, remarks such as "the money from Company A that went into a Swiss secret account is connected to Choi" and "Choi met with the chairman of a U.S. defense company and gained benefits" constituted defamation by spreading false information. The court further stated, "By quoting rumors circulating in society or statements from third parties without clearly providing evidence, and by speaking as if he had investigated directly, the defendant contributed to intensifying public criticism against the plaintiff."
Choi filed a 100 million won damages lawsuit, claiming that former lawmaker Ahn caused harm by spreading false information while raising suspicions of concealed assets during the 2016-2017 government corruption scandal.
The first trial court concluded in favor of the plaintiff due to the defendant's lack of response, ending the proceedings without a defense. However, the appellate court overturned this decision, ruling that Ahn's remarks were made for the public interest.
In June, the Supreme Court found that two of Ahn's statements constituted defamation by specifying false facts and partially overturned the ruling against the plaintiff, sending the case back to the Seoul Southern District Court.
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