According to reports on June 17, the Seoul High Court’s Civil Division 13-3 has scheduled the first appellate hearing for August 28 in actor Jo Byung-gyu’s damages lawsuit against an individual identified as “A,” who publicly raised allegations of school violence against the actor.
The case stems from a civil lawsuit filed by Jo Byung-gyu seeking compensation for damages allegedly caused by the school bullying accusations.
In the upcoming appeal, notable changes have been made to the lawsuit. Jo Byung-gyu’s former agency, HB Entertainment, has reportedly been removed from the list of plaintiffs. In addition, the amount being sought has been significantly reduced. While the original lawsuit requested more than 4 billion won (approximately $2.9 million), the revised appeal seeks roughly 900 million won (about $650,000).
The appeal follows a major setback for the actor in the first trial. Earlier, the Seoul Central District Court dismissed Jo Byung-gyu’s claims in their entirety, ruling in favor of the defendant.
Jo Byung-gyu’s legal team had argued that the allegations severely damaged his reputation and resulted in financial losses, including advertising contract cancellations and lost acting opportunities. The actor sought compensation for both financial and emotional damages. However, the court ultimately rejected those claims.
In its decision, the first-instance court stated that the evidence submitted by Jo Byung-gyu’s side was insufficient to conclusively determine that the allegations made by A were false. The court also reviewed statements submitted by the actor’s acquaintances and former classmates from his time studying in New Zealand.
However, judges reportedly found that those testimonies could not serve as decisive evidence regarding incidents that allegedly occurred in New Zealand, noting concerns about personal relationships and limitations in verifying the events in question. As a result, the court declined to recognize the statements as key evidence capable of disproving the allegations.
Separately, Jo Byung-gyu previously filed a criminal defamation complaint against A. According to reports, police decided not to forward the case for prosecution, effectively closing the investigation at the law enforcement stage. Following both the unfavorable civil court ruling and the police decision, Jo Byung-gyu chose to appeal the civil judgment, setting the stage for another round of legal proceedings between the two parties.
The school bullying allegations first surfaced several years ago and significantly impacted Jo Byung-gyu’s career, prompting widespread public debate and affecting some of his professional activities. The actor has consistently denied the accusations and has pursued legal action in an effort to clear his name.
With the appeal hearing now scheduled for August 28, attention will once again turn to whether the appellate court reaches a different conclusion from the first trial. As of now, no final judicial determination has been made regarding the truth of the underlying allegations, and the legal dispute remains ongoing.
Sources: Daum | 티브이데일리
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