Former Lawmaker Ahn Min-seok Claims Innocence in Defamation Case
Ahn Min-seok, a former member of the Democratic Party of Korea, has been accused of defaming Choi Seo-won (formerly known as Choi Soon-sil) by spreading false information. The prosecution has reiterated its request for a one-year prison sentence during the latest court proceedings held on June 10, 2025, at the Suwon District Court. This aligns with the prosecution's stance from the initial sentencing hearing on January 23, 2025. The court has rescheduled the verdict for July 10, 2025.
Judge Seol Il-young presided over the hearing, where the prosecution maintained that even in matters of significant public interest, spreading malicious falsehoods cannot be excused. They emphasized that Ahn, as a former lawmaker, contributed to the dissemination of harmful fake news.
Ahn is accused of making false claims on various radio and television programs since 2016, suggesting that German authorities were investigating Choi's assets for money laundering amounting to trillions of won. He also alleged that hundreds of companies in Germany were involved in money laundering through Choi's paper companies.
Additionally, Ahn raised unverified claims regarding Choi's alleged involvement in the introduction of the THAAD missile defense system, stating that she facilitated arms contracts with Lockheed Martin. He also mentioned unconfirmed allegations about a Swiss bank account linked to Choi.
Choi filed a lawsuit against Ahn in September 2019, asserting that his statements were entirely false. The prosecution concluded that Ahn's remarks were indeed defamatory, leading to his indictment in November 2023.
During the defense's arguments, they contended that Ahn's statements were made in the context of public interest, aimed at uncovering the truth about Choi's overseas asset concealment. They argued that his comments were not intended to defame but to express a public concern.
In his closing statement, Ahn asserted that he had no intention of harming Choi's reputation and claimed that he himself had been defamed through Choi's repeated malicious lawsuits. He expressed disbelief at being prosecuted for urging an investigation into the matter, highlighting the limitations faced by politicians without investigative powers.
