Choi Jin Shil Sued from the Grave for Husband’s Beating
Shinhan construction company filed a suit against actress Choi Jin Shil for what they perceived as her not fulfilling her duties as a spokesperson for them in 2004. The suit was won in Choi’s favor back in 2004 but the company appealed last year (most likely, hopefully, before her suicide) and the Supreme Court overturned the ruling, granting Shinhan 1.1 billion in a settlement. From the Korea Herald: ”‘Models who failed to maintain appropriate dignity as representatives of the products they represent should compensate for the damages caused to their advertiser’, the top court ruled.”
What did Choi Jin Shil do to become an “unsuitable” spokesmodel? How did she fail to “maintain appropriate dignity”? Well, back in 2004, while under contract with Shinhan, Choi Jin Shil was beaten by her husband, Cho Sung Min.
The incident was highly publicized and clearly Choi didn’t have the same image she had before. But is she responsible for her husbands violence? A lower court ruled no, stating that she could not be held responsible for her then-husband’s violence. But the supreme court felt that:
“The purpose of the brand model contract is to use the model’s social reputation and images to draw the customers’ interest, the model’s failure to maintain an adequate image constitutes a breach of the hiring contract.”
This is true but once again, how dare anyone sue a woman for being victimized by her own husband? How can a supreme court rule in favor of such an appeal? This ruling sets a scary and extremely sexist precedent.
Shinhan asked for 3 billion won of Choi’s 5 billion won estate left to her children. However, the court granted them a total of 1.1 billion won (less than half of which was compensation for breach of contract as stated in the contract). Though the company isn’t getting the 3 billion they asked for they’re still taking over 1/5th of Choi Jin Shil’s estate. And why? Because they think Choi Jin Shil is responsible for getting beat up by her ex-husband. To say I’m disgusted and offended would a pretty accurate representation of what I’m feeling. I hope that Choi’s family appeals this Supreme court decision. And I hope people are outraged and show it. This is extremely disrespectful to the late Choi Jin Shil, alive or deceased.
I have become a deep fan of Korean culture through watching Korean television dramas & documentaries. Unfortunately, when I hear about things like this disgusting lawsuit, it cools my ardor considerably. I understand that there is a cultural imperative regarding women in Korea. But this is too much. I am just sick about this, because it robs me of the respect I felt for an ancient & what I thought was a beautiful culture. This is greed & predjudice legalised by the highest court in the nation. Shame on the judges – they should have slapped this suit out of court. How can you do this to someone who gave so much pleasure to so many? And did this company really get financially damaged by Ms Choi being beaten by her evil husband? Of course not. It’s ludicrous. I’d like to see these creeps explain this all to Choi Jin Sil’s children. Disgusting wretches.
what the fuck i don’t believe this
[...] of the contracts which lock the stars into “maintaining dignity” (a term which in Choi Jin-shil’s case was breached by being beaten up by her husband), or force them into things they’d rather [...]
Of course this is pure evil, and what goes around comes around. I closely follow South Korean economy and businesses, and I will not be at all surprised to see Shinhan in very deep trouble in the near future. Funny how things work that way, but they do. I really pity the perpetrators of this act for what awaits them.