Best-selling author Lee Ji-seong and professional billiards player Cha Yu-ram, a married couple, lost their 1 billion won lawsuit in the second trial against a neighboring resident, and Lee Ji-seong's personal post has drawn attention.
On the 17th, according to Herald Economy, the Seoul High Court Civil Division 8-3 (Director General Im Jong-hyo) ruled in the first-instance and second-instance civil lawsuit filed by Lee Ji-seong against the downstairs resident A for about 1 billion won in damages, ordering Lee Ji-seong to lose.
Earlier, Lee Ji-seong and Cha Yu-ram were embroiled in a 2022 illegal renovation controversy. After purchasing an apartment in Gangnam District, Seoul, they were required to obtain district office permission for large-scale renovation work but did not follow the procedure. As a result, neighboring residents complained of damages including noise between floors, leaks and cracks, and the district office issued an order requiring restoration for the illegal renovation work.
Eventually, after the district office filed a complaint against the contractor for violating the Building Management Act, Lee Ji-seong's side obtained the proper building permit procedure and proceeded with construction until September 2022. However, thereafter Lee Ji-seong's side filed a civil lawsuit against the neighboring resident who was demanding compensation and additionally filed criminal complaints against A for attempted extortion and defamation. Lee Ji-seong also sought 1 billion won in damages, saying A "threatened by exploiting my status as a public figure." But A won the 1 billion won claim in the first instance and again in the second instance. It is also reported that the criminal complaints for obstruction of business, attempted extortion, defamation and false accusation were all dismissed with no charges.
The court reportedly specified that the victims in this case were neighboring residents. In the first instance, Lee Ji-seong claimed that A and others "demanded large sums under the pretext of compensation and threatened us," but the court sided with A, saying "there is no evidence to conclude that threats or extortion occurred." Lee Ji-seong appealed, but the second-instance panel also dismissed it, saying "the first-instance judgment is proper." The panel ordered Lee Ji-seong to bear the litigation expenses, and as a result the provisional seizure of A's home was lifted after four years. However, since the appeal period remains, the judgment is not yet final.
Meanwhile, on the 17th, when court-related reports came out, Lee Ji-seong posted a meaningful personal note on his social media. He said, "'O trials and hardships. What gift have you come to give me this time!' is a saying of Genghis Khan. I agree 100 percent," and added, "And I believe anger will surely become blessing. Hardship and trials are God's gifts. I will be hundreds, thousands, even millions of times better and happier than now. The conclusion of all my thoughts, feelings and judgments is always gratitude."
Meanwhile, in May last year, Lee Ji-seong received a summary order of a 500,000 won fine on charges including property damage and obstruction of business filed by a neighboring resident. However, because Lee Ji-seong's side objected to the summary order, a formal trial is underway.
[photo] SNS
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