"Chinese Spy Rumor" About Chey Tae-won's Partner... "Battery Uncle" Fined 7 Million Won

Spreading False Information About Kim Heeyoung, Director of the T&C Foundation

Park Soonhyuk (55) has been sentenced to a fine for defaming Kim Heeyoung, director of the T&C Foundation and partner of SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, by spreading false rumors such as the "Chinese spy allegation."

On July 9, Judge Kwon Minjeong of the Seoul Eastern District Court, Criminal Division 6, sentenced Park to a fine of 7 million won for defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act. Park is a YouTuber known in the economic and political fields as "Battery Uncle."

Seoul Eastern District Court, Songpa-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jaehyun Park

Explaining the reasons for sentencing, the court stated, "Given the nature of the media, the possibility of dissemination is considerable," but also took into account "the defendant's admission of guilt and the absence of any prior convictions for similar offenses related to this case."

Park was put on trial on charges of defamation for spreading false information in January last year through his YouTube channel, suggesting that "Kim, Chairman Chey's partner, might be a Chinese spy."

Chairman Chey filed a complaint with the police against Park in February last year, just one month after Park posted the video, and the police referred the case to the prosecution in August of the same year. During the sentencing hearing, prosecutors had previously sought an eight-month prison term for Park.

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