Court: 'Cheongdam-dong Drinking Party Allegation' False... Kim Eui-gyeom and Others to Compensate Han Dong-hoon
- Input
- 2025-08-13 11:37:20
- Updated
- 2025-08-13 11:37:20
Han Dong-hoon Wins Partial Compensation... 'Kim Eui-gyeom and Others to Pay 80 Million Won'
[Financial News] The so-called 'Cheongdam-dong drinking party allegation' against former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon is false, and the court ruled that Kim Eui-gyeom, head of the Saemangeum Development Agency, and others who raised the allegation must compensate the former leader for damages.
The Seoul Central District Court's Civil Agreement Division 14 (Chief Judge Jeong Ha-jeong) ruled in favor of the plaintiff in part in a lawsuit filed by former leader Han against Chief Kim and former The Tamsa leader Kang Jin-gu, among others, for 1 billion won in damages.
The court ordered Chief Kim and former leader Kang to jointly pay 70 million won, and the initial informant, Mr. Lee, to pay 10 million won.
The court explained, "The facts specified by the defendants are judged to be false," adding, "Although Chief Kim's involvement in the report is acknowledged, it is not deemed to be a false statement due to immunity from parliamentary audits or interviews."
The Cheongdam-dong drinking party allegation involves former President Yoon Seok-yeol and then Minister of Justice Han having a late-night drinking party with large law firm lawyers in Cheongdam-dong in July 2022.
Chief Kim raised the allegation during the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee's audit of the Ministry of Justice in October 2022, and it was reported by the YouTube media 'Citizen Press The Tamsa'.
Chief Kim also released an audio file of cellist A explaining the drinking party situation to her ex-boyfriend. However, A testified to the police that she "lied to deceive her ex-boyfriend."
In response, former leader Han filed a lawsuit for damages against Mr. Lee, A's ex-boyfriend and the initial informant, Chief Kim who mentioned the allegation during the audit, and The Tamsa reporters who reported it.
Meanwhile, Chief Kim and former leader Kang are facing criminal trials for defaming former leader Han.
jisseo@fnnews.com Seo Min-ji Reporter