A YouTuber indicted on charges of spreading rumors about SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and his live-in partner, T&C Foundation Director Kim Hee-young, was given a suspended prison sentence.
On Jan. 15, Seo Young-hyo, presiding judge of the 11th single-judge criminal division at the Seoul Northern District Court, sentenced a YouTuber, a person surnamed Park, 71, to one year in prison, suspended for three years, on charges of defamation under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection.
Prosecutors said Park, over roughly 10 instances between June and October 2024, posted videos and writings on their YouTube channel and blog that included claims that Chairman Chey donated 100 billion won to Director Kim, suspicions of obstructing the child's employment, and false facts related to the family.
The court said, "According to the evidence submitted in this case, the content that defamed the live-in partner is clearly proven," adding, "Given the gravity of the matter, we choose imprisonment, but in comprehensive consideration of the circumstances after the crime, the defendant's prior record, age, financial situation, and health, we impose a suspended sentence."
By contrast, the defamation charge regarding the chairman was not recognized. The court found that Chey, together with Director Kim, established the T&C Foundation, and transferred a total of 11.099 billion won from 2018 to September 2022; and that, considering factors such as the expense exceeding 30 billion won to purchase and rebuild dwellings in Hannam-dong where Director Kim and the child reside, the amount Chey directly or indirectly used for the live-in partner and the child can be seen as exceeding 60 billion won.
It added, "While the specific 100 billion won cited by the defendant is not acknowledged, it appears that an enormous sum was actually spent," and "the figure the defendant specified is merely somewhat exaggerated, and it is hard to deem it false."
Park is known as a longtime acquaintance and close associate of Roh Soh-yeong, director of Art Center Nabi, whose divorce from Chairman Chey has been finalized. Park presented themself as a "fan club president" and has appeared on broadcasts, and was also said to have been active in the same future-related academic society as Director Roh.
The Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office indicted Park without detention in July last year, and in November sought a one-year prison term. In a final statement, Park said, "I did so out of sympathy for the part where Director Roh tried to protect her family," but added, "When answering the anchor's question, I became agitated and the expression was exaggerated. I deeply reflect."