Footballer Ki Sung-yueng (36) has partially won a damages lawsuit filed against former elementary school teammates who claimed to have been sexually assaulted by him, and will receive 100 million won in compensation from them. This is being evaluated as Ki Sung-yueng gaining the upper hand in the legal dispute surrounding the 'sexual assault allegations' that emerged in 2021.
The Genesis of 'Sexual Assault Allegations' and Legal Battle by Former Elementary School Teammates
The incident began in February 2021 when A and B, who claimed to be Ki Sung-yueng's elementary school football club juniors, exposed that they were "sexually assaulted by Ki Sung-yueng while living at a football club in Jeollanam-do from January to June 2000." Through their legal representatives, they revealed shocking details, causing a social stir. At the time, Ki Sung-yueng was playing for FC Seoul in the K-League, and this revelation threatened to severely impact his career.
Ki Sung-yueng immediately countered, stating it was "clearly false information" and warned of legal action. Asserting that the allegations against him were unfounded, he sued A and B for defamation under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc., and also filed a damages lawsuit for 500 million won.
Progress of Police Investigation and Court Decision
The first trial of the damages lawsuit filed by Ki Sung-yueng was held in March 2022. However, the court at the time temporarily suspended the trial, stating it would make a decision after observing the results of the police investigation into the sexual assault allegations. This decision appears to have been made considering that the outcome of a criminal case can significantly influence a civil trial.
After a long investigation, in August 2023, the police decided not to send the case regarding Ki Sung-yueng's sexual assault allegations to the prosecutor due to insufficient evidence. This means that the police could not find sufficient evidence to support the claims of A and B. At the same time, the police also decided not to send the case where Ki Sung-yueng sued A and B for defamation to the prosecutor. With this, the criminal case concluded, but the civil lawsuit reignited.
Following the police's decision not to send the case to the prosecutor, the civil lawsuit resumed. On the 9th, Seoul Central District Court Civil Division 14 (Presiding Judge Jung Ha-jung) ruled partially in favor of the plaintiff in the damages lawsuit filed by Ki Sung-yueng against A and B. The court ruled that A and B should jointly pay Ki Sung-yueng 100 million won. This is interpreted as the court acknowledging that the claims of A and B were not true and that Ki Sung-yueng suffered emotional distress as a result.
Additional Lawsuit Due to the Expression 'Nationwide Swindle'
Interestingly, A and B had also filed a separate damages lawsuit against Ki Sung-yueng's side. They demanded 200 million won in damages, claiming that Ki Sung-yueng's lawyer's description of their disclosure as a "nationwide swindle" constituted defamation or insult. However, A and B lost both the first and second trials in this lawsuit. This indicates that the court found the remarks by Ki Sung-yueng's lawyer did not legally constitute defamation or insult.
With this ruling, Ki Sung-yueng is expected to be partially freed from the sexual assault allegations that have plagued him for a long time. However, there is still a possibility that A and B may appeal, so the final conclusion of this case may take more time. This case showcases a complex legal dispute surrounding an individual's honor and truth, and is significant in that it has raised awareness in our society about both the positive aspects of the #MeToo movement and the dangers of indiscriminate disclosures.
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