“Kim Bo-reum Wins Part of Damages Appeal in ‘Bullying Driving’ Controversy at Pyeongchang Olympics”

In the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics speed skating women’s team pursuit, Kim Bo-reum, who caused the controversy over ‘bullying driving’, also won part of the appeal trial for damages filed by Noh Seon-young, who participated with him, saying, “I suffered verbal and defamation damage.” Previously, the first trial judged that Seon-young Noh should pay 3 million won to Bo-reum Kim.

Civil Division 13, Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Moon Gwang-seop, High Court Judges Jung Moon-gyeong and Lee Jun-hyeon)On the 21st, Bo-reum Kim filed a claim for damages against Noh Seon-young.(2022 or 2010871)dismissed the plaintiff’s appeal(2022 na 2010871).

The judge said, “It is difficult to see that some of Roh Seon-young’s profanity against Kim Bo-reum were unavoidable during the training process or allowed in terms of social norms.” In light of the time, place, etc., it is reasonable to believe that this constitutes an illegal act that inflicts mental pain on Kim Bo-reum.”

When Bo-reum Kim competed in the quarterfinals in the women’s team pursuit of speed skating at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, she left Roh Seon-young, who was far behind, to cross the finish line first with another athlete, and was engulfed in controversy over “running bullied”. The controversy spread further when Noh Seon-yeong made claims such as “the national team did not train together even once” and “the atmosphere of the team during training was not good” in an interview with the media before and after the game.

However, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, which conducted a special audit of the Korea Ice Skating Federation, announced in May 2018 that “Bo-reum Kim did not intentionally ostracize Noh Seon-yeong or intentionally accelerate in the team pursuit game.”

Afterwards, Kim Bo-reum filed a lawsuit in November 2020, saying, “All of the interviews with Noh Seon-young are false, and through that interview, I was mistaken for alienating Noh Seon-young and ‘bullying’, and my reputation was damaged.”

Previously, the first trial did not accept Kim Bo-reum’s claim that his reputation was damaged by the interview with Noh Seon-young, but acknowledged some of the psychological damage caused by Noh Seon-young’s continuous verbal abuse and abusive language. Afterwards, Roh Seon-young appealed against the first trial ruling.

The appellate court recommended that the two reconcile, but when they could not reach an agreement, they ordered compulsory mediation in January. However, it broke down as Kim Bo-reum filed an objection. The court again recommended reconciliation and ordered compulsory mediation again, but both sides filed an objection, and the decision was made in the second trial.