Former Actor Kang Ji-hwan Wins Lawsuit Against Former Agency: Court Dismisses 4.2 Billion Won Damages Claim

Actor Kang Ji-hwan (real name Jo Tae-gyu)/News1 ⓒ News1

Actor Kang Ji-hwan (46, real name Jo Tae-gyu), who dropped out of the drama after being found guilty of sexually assaulting and sexually harassing two female staff members (quasi-rape and quasi-forcible molestation), won a lawsuit for damages filed by his former agency.

According to the legal community on the 3rd, the 14th Civil Settlement Division of the Seoul Central District Court dismissed the plaintiff’s claim in a lawsuit seeking 4.2 billion won in damages filed against Kang Ji-hwan by his former agency on November 29 last year.

The court ruled that there was no evidence to admit compensation because the sexual assault case of Kang Ji-hwan’s staff occurred after the termination of his exclusive contract with his former agency, and the fact that the former agency and Kang Ji-hwan were in a joint guarantee agreement relationship in which they had to jointly bear debt for the drama failure I admitted it.

Kang Ji-hwan and his former agency had been sentenced to pay 5.3 billion won in compensation from the production company of the drama ‘Joseon Survival’, from which Kang Ji-hwan dropped out.

The former agency disobeyed the ruling and appealed in December last year.

Meanwhile, in July 2019, Kang Ji-hwan was indicted on charges of committing a sexual crime after drinking alcohol at his home in Opo-eup, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, and entering the room where two female outsourced staff members were sleeping. In November 2020, the Supreme Court confirmed the first and second trial rulings that sentenced Kang Ji-hwan to two years and six months in prison and three years of probation.

Kang Ji-hwan apologized at the time, saying, “I admit all the charges, and I sincerely bow my head in apology to the victims who have been greatly hurt by my irreparable mistake.” He also said, “I would like to apologize to the many people who have caused concern because of this incident,” and added, “I will pay the price for my mistakes and live in atonement.”

Due to this incident, Kang Ji-hwan immediately stopped his entertainment activities. He also withdrew from the TV CHOSUN drama ‘Joseon Survival’, in which he was appearing. The production company of ‘Joseon Survival’ filed a lawsuit against Kang Ji-hwan and his former agency in July 2019 to return the unfair profits, and in 2022, the second division of the Supreme Court ruled to pay approximately 5.3 billion won in compensation. Accordingly, his former agency filed a lawsuit against Kang Ji-hwan for damages worth 4.2 billion won, but lost.

(Seoul = News 1)