Han Dong-hoon Loses Damages Lawsuit Against KBS Over "Prosecutor-Media Collusion" False Report

Court Rules After Six Years,

Dismisses Damages Claim

Handong Hoon, an independent member of the National Assembly (who was then the Deputy Chief Prosecutor at the Busan High Prosecutors’ Office, prosecutor general level), lost his damages lawsuit against KBS reporters and others, in which he claimed that his reputation had been damaged by false reporting regarding the so-called “prosecution-media collusion” allegations.

On July 9, Civil Division 15 of the Seoul Southern District Court (Presiding Judge Yoon Chanyoung) dismissed Assemblyman Han’s claim in a damages lawsuit worth 500 million won that he had filed against the head of the KBS news division and eight current and former executives and reporters. The court also ordered Assemblyman Han, the plaintiff, to bear the litigation costs. This was the first-instance ruling, delivered about six years after the incident began.

Handong Hoon, an independent member of the National Assembly, is attending the 436th National Assembly (Extraordinary Session) 1st plenary session held at the National Assembly main chamber in Yeouido, Seoul, last June. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

This case began in 2020 when KBS aired the so-called “Busan transcript” report, which suggested that Handong Hoon, then Deputy Chief Prosecutor at the Busan High Prosecutors’ Office, and Lee Dongjae, former Channel A reporter, had conspired to raise suspicions about Rhyu Si-min, former chairman of the Roh Moo Hyun Foundation. The full transcript, which was later released, did not include these details, and KBS admitted to the erroneous report and issued an apology just one day after the broadcast. Assemblyman Han filed a criminal complaint against the KBS reporter for defamation via publication at the time, and also filed a 500 million won damages lawsuit against eight individuals, including the head of the KBS news division.

Meanwhile, in connection with this case, both Shin Sung-sik, former chief prosecutor, and the KBS reporter, who were indicted on charges of providing false information to KBS, were acquitted again on appeal last month. At that time, the court dismissed the prosecutor’s appeal, stating that even if some aspects of the reporting were not factual, it was difficult to conclude that the defendants were aware of the falsity.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.