'9.8 Billion Won Damages Suit': First-Instance Ruling in Park Soo-hong and His Older Brother and Sister-in-Law’s Case Due Today, Five Years On

[Financial News] A first-instance ruling is due today (the 23rd) in a damages lawsuit worth around 9.8 billion won involving TV personality Park Soo-hong and his older brother and sister-in-law.
According to Star News on the 23rd, the 12th Civil Division of the Seoul Western District Court will hold a sentencing hearing that day in a damages suit Park Soo-hong filed against his older brother and sister-in-law. The legal battle, which began in 2021, is set to reach a first-instance conclusion after about five years.
Park Soo-hong filed the suit, alleging that his older brother and sister-in-law had failed to properly settle his appearance fees and other payments while handling his management and finances for a long time. The amount sought initially rose from 11.6 billion won to 19.8 billion won, but was later adjusted to about 9.8 billion won after the claims were streamlined during the proceedings.
After holding 13 hearings, the court concluded arguments on July 10.
In a separate criminal trial on embezzlement charges, his older brother and sister-in-law were found guilty, and their convictions were finalized.
Park Soo-hong’s older brother was indicted in October 2022 on charges including using agency funds for personal purposes, such as apartment maintenance fees and attorney fees, while handling his younger brother’s management from 2011 to 2021. His wife was also put on trial on charges including using a corporate credit card for personal expenses.
On February 26, the Supreme Court of Korea upheld the lower court ruling sentencing Park’s older brother to three years and six months in prison for embezzlement under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Economic Crimes, and his sister-in-law to one year in prison, suspended for two years.
Separately, his sister-in-law was indicted for allegedly spreading false information in a ChatGPT for Kakao group chat with the intent to defame Park Soo-hong, and was fined 12 million won in an appeal. She has appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court.
[email protected] Shin Jin-a Reporter