Professor acquitted of defaming late President Roh

A local court on Wednesday dismissed a libel suit filed by the son of late President Roh Moo-hyun against a university professor on charges of mocking the late president during his class.

Roh Gun-ho filed the suit in June 2015, seeking 100 million won (US$82,300) in compensation from the law professor at Seoul's Hongik University, identified only by his surname Lyou, for defaming Roh and his family.

In the final exam taken during Lyou's U.S. contract law class last year, he inserted a sentence which read "Roh was 17 years old and his I.Q. was 69. He suffered brain defects resulting from jumping from the rock of the Owl when he was six."

President Roh jumped off a cliff to his death behind his retirement home in May 2009, a year after leaving office, amid a widening probe by prosecutors over allegations that members of his family accepted illicit funds.

Following complaints from students, Lyou reportedly said it was his own teaching method and that he had no intention of belittling the late president, adding that there is room for criticism against late President Roh.

Roh Gun-ho claimed Lyou pointed out false information but the Seoul Western District Court turned down the suit.

The plaintiff's lawyer said they will decide whether to appeal after reviewing the ruling.

(Yonhap)