By Park Si-soo
South Korea's top court on Tuesday confirmed the conviction of three weekly magazine reporters who were accused of publishing an extramarital affair story involving a Korean civilian worker at United States Forces Korea (USFK).
The Supreme Court upheld a lower court's ruling, fining them 3 million won ($2,800) each for defaming the worker.
The court rejected the reporters' claim that their reporting was justifiable in light of people's right to know and the freedom of press.
It said the disputed story dealt with a “sheer private affair” whose publication did nothing for public interest. The court said the story was published with personal details edited out, but not enough.