The wife of broadcaster Park Soo-hong's elder brother, surnamed Lee, who was indicted for spreading false information regarding Park's private life, has been sentenced to a fine in her appeal as well.

On the 23rd, Criminal Appellate Division 1 of the Seoul Western District Court (Presiding Judge Ban Jung-woo) dismissed the appeal filed by Lee, who was indicted on charges of violation of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, Etc. (Defamation), and upheld the original verdict of a 12 million won fine.

Lee was brought to trial on charges of defaming Park by sending messages containing false information—such as claims that Park cohabited with a woman during his active broadcasting days—in a KakaoTalk group chat.

Previously, the first-instance court sentenced her to a 12 million won fine, stating, "She committed the crime with the purpose of creating favorable public opinion in the legal dispute between herself and her husband and defaming the victim." In response, Lee appealed, claiming misapprehension of facts and legal principles, but her appeal was not accepted.

At the final hearing for the appeal held on the 25th of last month, the prosecution asked the court to "dismiss the defendant's appeal and sentence her to 10 months in prison, the same as the sentence originally sought."

During her final statement at the time, Lee belatedly expressed her apology to Park Soo-hong and his wife, Kim Da-ye. Lee pleaded for leniency, saying, "Although it was an extremely private conversation with acquaintances, I apologize for causing hurt to Park Soo-hong and Kim Da-ye through it. At the time, I thought my actions were right, but looking back now, I realize how reckless and foolish I was. I am deeply reflecting and will ensure that something like this never happens again. I want to become a mother of whom my children can be proud."

Lee's side argued that she had substantial grounds to believe the victim lived together with a woman because she had repeatedly witnessed a woman's belongings at Park's home, and that her remarks were not fabricated with the knowledge that they were false. They also argued that the remarks were merely made to respond to a situation where a property dispute among family members had become public, and that there was no intent to defame.

Meanwhile, Park Soo-hong's elder brother, surnamed Park, was indicted on charges of embezzling funds from an entertainment agency corporation and Park's appearance fees, and recently had a prison sentence of 3 years and 6 months finalized by the Supreme Court.



(Photo: SBS E! News, Reported by Kang Kyung-yoon)