Former footballer Lee Dong-gook sued for attempted fraud over personality rights dispute

Former footballer Lee Dong-gook and his wife have been sued by a hospital where their last three children were born for allegedly trying to deceive the hospital for money, the police said Wednesday.

Former footballer Lee Dong-gook [NEWS1]

Former footballer Lee Dong-gook and his wife have been sued by a hospital where their last three children were born for allegedly trying to deceive the hospital for money, the police said Wednesday.

The hospital's manager, only identified by his last name, Kim, sued the couple on Dec. 15, following a past legal dispute over whether the hospital violated Lee and his family's personality rights by using the family's photos for commercial purposes.

Lee, alleging the hospital used his family's photos without permission, brought the dispute to an Incheon court to seek mediation last year, according to the JoongAng Ilbo, an affiliate of the Korea JoongAng Daily.

Lee asked for 1.2 billion won ($920,000) in compensation.

The court dismissed Lee's request for mediation this year.

Lee's agency, Think Entertainment, said Thursday the request was dismissed because Kim filed for bankruptcy.

Kim, however, said Lee had been aware of his family's photos being used for the hospital's promotions and only asked for money after knowing Kim was going through a lawsuit with somebody close to Lee's family.

The JoongAng Ilbo reported Lee's family knew the family's photos were being used at the hospital long before the couple brought the case to court.

Lee and his wife said they weren't aware.

"The hospital has been using [the] photos for 10 years without [Lee's] consent," Lee's agency said in a press release. "[Lee and his wife] learned about the situation three years ago when they visited the hospital to get birth papers."

It added the couple had asked the hospital to stop using the photos several times, even sending a written request, saying the hospital continued using the photos after the requests.

The agency said Lee plans to sue Kim for defamation and false accusations.

BY KIM JI-YE [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]