Actress Lee Young Ae (53) has lost a defamation lawsuit against Jeong Cheon Su, the former head of a YouTube-based media outlet, who claimed she had a close relationship with First Lady Kim Geon Hee. Lee had filed the lawsuit seeking damages for the alleged spread of false information.

On December 20, the 12th Civil Division of the Seoul Western District Court, led by Judge Kim Jin Young, ruled in favor of Jeong Cheon Su in the lawsuit, which sought 250 million KRW (About 173,000 USD) in damages. The court also ordered Lee Young Ae to bear the costs of the lawsuit.

Last October, Lee Young Ae’s agency, GROUP EIGHT, filed a criminal complaint and a civil lawsuit, accusing Jeong of spreading fake news through content on his YouTube channel about Lee's alleged friendship with First Lady Kim Geon Hee.

Prior to the verdict, the court issued a recommendation for reconciliation on October 29, but Lee's side rejected the offer, leading to a formal ruling.

The police, meanwhile, decided not to proceed with the case after Lee Young Ae accused Jeong of violating the Information and Communications Network Act (defamation), arguing that the claim of a friendship with the First Lady did not harm her social reputation. Following the prosecution's decision not to press charges, Lee filed an appeal, and the Seoul High Prosecutor's Office has been conducting its own investigation since August.

The dispute began last September when Jeong alleged that Lee's 50 million KRW (About 34,600 USD) donation to the Rhee Syngman Foundation for the construction of the Rhee Syngman Presidential Memorial Hall was due to her friendship with President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Geon Hee. Lee publicly denounced the claim as 'clear fake news' and demanded an apology, pledging to take legal action.

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