Broadcaster Park Soo-hong's Sister-in-Law Appeals Fine for Defamation

The 50-year-old sister-in-law of broadcaster Park Soo-hong, identified by her surname Lee, has appealed a high court ruling that upheld her fine for spreading false rumors regarding Park's personal life.

According to legal sources, Lee's legal representation submitted an appeal to the Seoul Western District Court today (July 27).

On July 23, the appellate court sentenced Lee to a fine of 12 million won, maintaining the same penalty handed down in the first trial on charges of defamation under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection.

Lee was indicted for sending messages containing false information—such as claims that Park lived with a woman while active on broadcasting shows—to a group chat on KakaoTalk.

She was also charged with defaming Park by falsely claiming that he lied about her and her husband embezzling his money.

Lee's side has argued that her actions were merely a defensive response to clear up misunderstandings and that she had no intention to defame.

In December of last year, Lee was convicted of misusing 26 million won from Park Soo-hong's agency corporate card for personal use, receiving a sentence of 1 year and 6 months in prison suspended for 2 years.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
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