How much did Shinhan ask (and got) from the late Choi Jin Shil?
Update of this post
Shinhan construction company filed a suit against actress Choi Jin Sil 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 Sil 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 Sil 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 ($1.7m) won of Choi’s 5 billion (2.8m) 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)($630,000). Though the company isn’t getting the 3 billion they asked for they’re still taking over 1/5th of Choi Jin Sil’s estate. And why? Because they think Choi Jin Sil 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 Sil, alive or deceased.
bolded it for the tldr crowd
http://seoulbeats.com/2009/06/choi-jin-sil-sued-from-the-grave-for-husbands-beating/
edit
you can email feministing about this situation here:
http://www.feministing.com/contact.html
and if you want to bash the company...
https://www.seco.co.kr/eng/cs/cs_04.htm