Korean footballer Ki Sung-yueng awarded P4.1 million in defamation win over sexual assault claims
South Korean footballer Ki Sung-yueng won a civil defamation lawsuit against two former teammates from his elementary school who had accused him of sexual assault.
The Korea Herald reported that the South Central District Court ordered Ki's former teammates to pay him 100 million won (P4.1 million) in damages. He originally sought 500 million won (P20.5 million).
The allegations first surfaced in February 2021, when his teammates from a school in South Jeolla Province claimed Ki had sexually assaulted them and another teammate in 2000 for six months.
They didn't mention Ki by name, though their descriptions strongly suggested that he was one of the alleged perpetrators.
The 36-year-old footballer denied the accusations and, in response, filed criminal and civil cases against his two ex-teammates.
The criminal case was closed in August 2023 due to lack of evidence. Authorities said there was also insufficient evidence to support the sexual assault allegations against Ki.
The trial for the civil case, meanwhile, began in March 2022. It was suspended until the criminal case wrapped up and resumed in January 2024.
Ki plays as a midfielder for Pohang Steelers in the K League 1, the highest level of the South Korean football system. He started his football career at Suncheon Jungang Elementary School Football Club and joined Gwangyang Jecheol Middle School afterward.
In 2001, he went to Australia to study at John Paul College under the Brain Soccer Program. He went back to South Korea and attended Kumho High School, graduating in 2006.
Ki then joined FC Seoul in 2007, before being a part of European teams like Celtic FC, Swansea City, Sunderland AFC, Newcastle United, and RCD Mallorca over the years. He returned to FC Seoul in 2020 before leaving again early this month.
He is now with the Pohang Steelers.
According to JoongAng Daily, Ki had 110 caps and 10 goals for the Korean national team under his belt in three World Cups in 2010, 2014, and 2018.
He helped the Taeguk Warriors reach the 16th round of the 2010 World Cup. He was also part of the U-23 team that won a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics.
