Lawyer loses damage suit against 'cyber bullies'

By Jung Min-ho

Kang Yong-seok, a TV personality and lawyer, lost his suit for damages, Monday, against six people who attacked him in cyberspace.

The Seoul Central District Court dismissed his claims that the six posted offensive online comments against him and defamed him, dismissing his demand for 1.5 million won ($1,300) from each person in compensation.

Judge Park Kang-min said the comments were neither very insulting nor specific, saying they were nothing more than expressions of their negative opinions and feelings against the lawyer.

“Some of the comments seemed inappropriate and they might have hurt his feelings, but not to the point where they have to compensate him financially, considering the context and his social status,” Park said.

Following a scandal that he had an affair with a popular online blogger last year, Kang filed a damages suit in September against 200 people who he claimed constantly posted comments that tarnished his public image.

After media reports about this legal action, six other people posted negative comments about him again, such as “Did he study law to do such things?” And Kang took issue with them as well.

He later sued hundreds of other people for the same reason, which prompted the Seoul Bar Association to start an inspection of his alleged abuse of power as a legal professional in April.