The court issued a compulsory mediation decision in the case of a woman, Ms. A, who filed a damages lawsuit claiming she had a private relationship with actor Hwang Jung-min.
The court mediation center of the Seoul Central District Court on the 14th held a mediation session for the 200 million won damages lawsuit Ms. A filed against Hwang Jung-min and issued a compulsory mediation decision. Both Ms. A and Hwang failed to appear at the mediation session that day. The specific details of the compulsory mediation were not disclosed.
Compulsory mediation is a procedure in which, if the parties do not reach an agreement, the court ex officio sets the terms of settlement and makes a decision in lieu of mediation. If neither side files an objection within two weeks from the date the written decision is served, it is finalized. If either side files an objection, the compulsory mediation decision loses effect and formal trial proceedings continue.
In Feb., Ms. A filed a lawsuit seeking 200 million won in damages against Hwang Jung-min. She said she took part in the soju development business and novel writing that Hwang proposed but did not receive proper compensation, and suffered mental and social harm in the process.
About four months after the lawsuit was filed, in June, the Seoul Central District Court referred the case to mediation.
Recently, through her social networking service (SNS) and other channels, Ms. A has claimed she had a private relationship with Hwang Jung-min, releasing call recordings and messages. She also put forward claims that Hwang proposed a soju brand business for which she handled practical affairs, and that she was encouraged to write a novel.
Hwang Jung-min's side is not accepting Ms. A's claims. Hwang's side filed a complaint against Ms. A on stalking charges in Aug. last year, and Ms. A is currently on related criminal trial.
Earlier, in Feb., the court issued a summary order fining Ms. A 3 million won for violating the stalking punishment law, but a formal trial is underway after Ms. A objected.
At the sentencing hearing held on the 11th under the jurisdiction of the single-judge Criminal Division 4 of the Goyang Branch of the Uijeongbu District Court (Presiding Judge Kim Young-a), prosecutors asked the court to sentence Ms. A to a fine of 10 million won. Ms. A denies the stalking charges. The sentencing is set for the 8th of next month.