Civic group leader who targeted Democratic Party lawmaker on social media with “It’s a fact they went to a room salon” acquitted again on appeal

[Financial News] The head of a civic group who posted online that former Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Shin Young-dae, who represented the Gunsan City–Gimje-si–Buan-gun A constituency in North Jeolla Province, had received hospitality at an adult entertainment establishment was acquitted on appeal.
On the 27th, the 3-3 Criminal Division of the Jeonju District Court, presided over by Judge Jeong Se-jin, rejected the prosecution’s appeal and upheld the acquittal in the case against Park, 56, who was indicted on a charge of defamation under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc.
Park was indicted on charges of posting messages on social media on March 4, 2024, ahead of the 2024 South Korean legislative election, targeting Shin, who was then a Democratic Party of Korea preliminary candidate for the general election, with statements such as “It’s a fact he went to a room salon” and “They even linked arms affectionately with an escort.”
After these allegations were raised ahead of the election, Shin explained, “I couldn’t turn down a request from a junior from high school, so I went along for a second round, but I didn’t know it was a bar where female hostesses worked.”
In response, the trial court cited photos showing physical contact between Shin and an employee of the adult entertainment establishment and acquitted Park, saying, “The allegation that the victim, who was a member of the National Assembly at the time, received hospitality at an adult entertainment establishment is not false; it is a matter of public interest.”
The prosecutor, who had sought a fine of 1 million won for Park, appealed the ruling, but the appellate court reached the same conclusion as the lower court. The appellate court stated unequivocally, “The post said that the victim, who was then a sitting member of the National Assembly and a party’s preliminary candidate, had gone to an adult entertainment establishment where they sat with hostesses.”
The court continued, “Even when compared with media reports published at the time that included photographs, the post does not appear to have been maliciously edited or to contain falsehoods unrelated to the facts.” It added, “Even if the defendant’s post contained somewhat harsh language, it did not exceed the bounds of political expression, and even if it harmed the victim’s social standing, that harm cannot be considered greater than the public interest (which voters need to know about).” The court ruled that the lower court’s acquittal was justified.
[email protected] Kim Hee-sun Reporter