Lee Young-ae Loses Defamation Lawsuit Against YouTuber

Actress Lee Young-ae has filed a defamation lawsuit against former Open Communication TV representative Jeong Cheon-soo, claiming damages of 250 million won. However, on December 20, the Seoul Western District Court ruled against her in the first instance. The court had previously recommended a settlement in October, which included the removal of the controversial video and a ban on broadcasting any claims regarding Lee's relationship with Kim Geon-hee, the First Lady of South Korea. Lee's team rejected this recommendation last month, leading to further legal proceedings. The controversy began when Lee donated 50 million won to the Lee Seung-man Presidential Memorial Foundation in September 2023, which Open Communication TV linked to her alleged ties with Kim Geon-hee. Following this, Lee accused the channel of spreading false information and took legal action against Jeong.