Actor Jo Byeong Kyu has lost the defamation lawsuit he filed against an individual identified as A, who accused him of being a school violence perpetrator. Jo and his former agency previously sued A for damages, asserting that the accusations severely harmed his reputation and led to financial losses of about 4 billion KRW (3 million USD) due to canceled advertisements and drama appearances. They sought 1.5 billion KRW (1.125 million USD) in compensation, including 200 million KRW (150,000 USD) for emotional distress. The court ruled that the evidence provided by Jo’s team was insufficient to prove that A’s claims were false. It also determined that A’s deletion of the post did not constitute an admission of guilt but was likely an attempt to avoid legal repercussions. In addition, testimonies from Jo’s acquaintances denying the allegations were dismissed as unreliable evidence. Jo Byeong Kyu’s legal representatives have stated their intention to appeal the verdict.
