Broadcaster Kim Ou-joon, who was fined in the first trial on charges of defaming former Channel A reporter Lee Dong-jae by spreading false information, appealed the ruling.
According to legal sources on the 16th, Kim filed a notice of appeal with the court on the 15th. This came a day after Kim was fined 20 million won on the 14th for charges including defamation by false information under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection.
Kim was brought to trial on charges of making false remarks on YouTube and radio from April to October 2020 to the effect that "former reporter Lee Dong-jae threatened former SillaJen CEO Lee Cheol to 'say you gave money to Yoo Si-min.'"
During the trial, Kim denied the charges, saying the remarks were an expression of opinion, not intended to slander.
However, the first trial court said, "The defendant recognized the falsity and also had the purpose of slander," adding, "The number of offenses was not small, and they shaped public opinion, making the nature of the crime poor." It continued, "The victim suffered considerable mental distress and is petitioning for severe punishment," explaining the reasons for the sentence.