Football player Ki Sung-yueng (36, Pohang Steelers) won part of his lawsuit against the accusers of sexual assault in the first trial.
On the 9th, the 14th Civil Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Jeong Ha-jeong) ruled in favor of the plaintiff in part for the lawsuit for damages filed by Ki Sung-yueng. The court ordered two former elementary school juniors, A and B, to jointly pay 100 million won in damages to Ki Sung-yueng.
A and B accused Ki Sung-yueng of sexual violence in 2021. They revealed that they were subjected to sexual assault by senior players, including Ki, during their time in a football club at an elementary school in Jeonnam from January to June 2000. Although they did not mention names, it was content that could be inferred to refer to Ki Sung-yueng.
Ki Sung-yueng immediately denied the allegations, claiming they were baseless. He held a press conference to express his grievances. At the same time, he filed a lawsuit against A and B for defamation under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection. He also pursued a damages claim of 500 million won.
The first hearing for the damages lawsuit filed by Ki Sung-yueng took place in March 2022. However, the proceedings of the trial were delayed until the outcome of the case against A and B was released. In August 2023, the criminal case was concluded, and the hearing for the damages lawsuit resumed in January of the previous year.
The Seocho Police Station in Seoul dismissed the defamation charges against A and B due to insufficient evidence. Ki Sung-yueng was also cleared of any charges regarding allegations of sexual violence on the same grounds.
Meanwhile, 'Dispatch' reported in 2021 that they gathered testimonies from 16 individuals who recalled the events. All of them stated that "the claims of A and B are false." They explained that the dormitory was an open space where 20 people slept in one room, making it impossible for Ki Sung-yueng to call A and B and commit sexual assault.
<Photo source=Instagram>
