Writer charged for spreading rumors

The Seoul Central District Court said yesterday that they indicted a local online news reporter surnamed Han on charges of spreading false stories about Korean celebrities.

According to prosecutors, Han is accused of writing online articles that included untrue rumors about actressLee Young-aeand her husband Jeong Ho-young.

The articles written by Han reported that Lee is the mother-in-law of actressHan Chae-youngand also that Jeong had once datedShim Eun-ha, another actress.

However, it later turned out that both of these rumors were groundless.

Previously, Lee filed a lawsuit against Internet users who were spreading malicious rumors about her and her family.

By Jin Eun-soo, contributing writer