Park Soo Hong's sister-in-law appeals fine in defamation case

The legal battle between entertainer Park Soo Hong (55) and his older brother's family is heading to the Supreme Court. Lee (54), the sister-in-law charged with spreading false information regarding Park Soo Hong's private life, has filed an appeal after contesting the appellate court's ruling.

Lee's legal team submitted the appeal to the Seoul Western District Court on this day. Previously, on the 23rd, the 1st Criminal Appellate Division of the Seoul Western District Court (Presiding Judge Ban Jeong Woo) upheld the first instance verdict, sentencing Lee to a fine of 12 million won for defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act. Lee is accused of defaming Park Soo Hong by sending messages in a group chat suggesting that he had been living with a woman during his broadcasting career. Park Soo Hong and his wife filed a defamation complaint against Lee in October 2023.

"No intent to slander" vs. "Clear statement of false facts"

While Lee's side admitted to sending the messages, they denied the charges. They argued that although the messages were sent to a group chat, they did not explicitly state that Park Soo Hong lived with a woman, but rather implied that the woman shared the same social circle. They also maintained that there was no intent to slander Park Soo Hong.

The appellate court, however, reached a different conclusion. The court ruled that Lee stated false facts by sending messages such as "it seems he is with a woman," implying she was frequently seen with him. The first instance court also ruled that Lee's actions were egregious, as she spread false information online to sway public opinion in favor of herself and her husband in their legal dispute and to slander the victim.

9.8 billion won damages lawsuit and the brother's embezzlement charges

The legal disputes surrounding Park Soo Hong extend beyond this case. His older brother, Park, was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison with a 2-year stay of execution, a sentence finalized by the Supreme Court last February for embezzling corporate funds and appearance fees from an entertainment agency. Park Soo Hong is currently pursuing a damages lawsuit worth approximately 9.8 billion won against his brother and sister-in-law, with the first instance verdict scheduled for September 11.

21-month-old daughter Jae Yi's summer vacation with maternal grandparents

Despite the prolonged legal battle, Park Soo Hong's family continues their daily life. Through his YouTube channel 'Park Soo Hong Haengbokhaedahong,' Park released a summer vacation vlog featuring his 21-month-old daughter, Jae Yi. In the video, Jae Yi enjoys her trip with her maternal grandmother and grandfather.

Jae Yi showed great affection for her maternal grandparents. Her grandfather shared glimpses of their daily life, saying, "When Jae Yi wakes up in the morning and asks, 'Whose dream did you dream about?', the first thing she says is, 'I dreamed about Grandma and Grandpa.'" Throughout the trip, Jae Yi demonstrated her social skills by staying close to her grandparents. She unhesitatingly hugged elders she was meeting for the first time, sat in her grandfather's arms during meals, and leaned against her grandmother to nap when she felt sleepy.

Jae Yi's charm continued even at the moment of parting. She said goodbye by performing a "belly button bow," a gesture she learned from her grandmother. Park Soo Hong married Kim Da Ye in 2021 and had a daughter last year. He currently shares his parenting journey through YouTube. In the video, Jae Yi also received a message from a fan saying, "I watch you every day on YouTube. You are so pretty. I've been a fan for a long time."