TV personality Park Soo-hong was recently cleared of intimidation allegations. Now, his former attorney Noh Jong-eon faces his own criminal complaint — this time for attempted extortion.
According to police and legal sources on the 12th, Im Dal-sik, a former head coach of the South Korean women’s national basketball team who now runs a food brand, filed a complaint with Seoul’s Gangnam Police Station on the 11th, claiming that Noh threatened him over the phone. Im alleges that Noh pressured him to offer more favorable business terms to Park.
Im had filed a similar complaint against Park in July, but on October 20 police declined to refer the case to prosecutors, citing insufficient evidence.
Separately, Park’s side filed a civil lawsuit alleging that Im’s company used his image for more than a year without a contract, seeking about 496 million won in unpaid endorsement fees. They denied any intimidation, saying they first learned of the criminal complaint through media reports — which they called a publicity ploy — and vowed legal action in response.
Responding to the new allegation, Noh released a statement on the 12th calling it a malicious attempt to sway public opinion ahead of a civil ruling.
“The essence of this dispute isn’t intimidation — it’s the unauthorized use of Park Soo-hong’s likeness and unpaid model fees,” Noh said. He claimed that the recording submitted by Im is an edited clip taken out of context, adding that the call in question was part of legal guidance he provided.
Noh also argued that Im continued selling products and profiting without paying Park, behavior that “doesn’t square with someone who claims to have been threatened.”
He said he would respond strongly, including actions for false accusation, perjury, and defamation, pledging to protect Park’s rights to the end.
Reports noted that Park’s team filed the civil suit last September, seeking about 496 million won in agreed fees after Im’s brand allegedly sold products using Park’s image without permission. Im, however, claims that Park’s side demanded 5–10% of total sales, including items Park didn’t participate in, and says the pressure began when he refused.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)
