Music
28 Aug 17

South Korea man fined in defamation suit over Dr Dre rumour

A 73-year-old man in South Korea has been fined for circulating a rumour online that the widow of late President Kim Dae-jung had planned to marry rapper Dr Dre.

The man had alleged the former president's widow, Lee Hee-ho, intended to marry Dr Dre so the pair could launder the deceased president's slush funds.

The Seoul district court ruled that the comments "violated the honour of the deceased and bereaved."

Judge Lee Eun-hee said “The rumour about the slush fund and the marriage between Lee and Dr. Dre is groundless.”

The man was fined five million Korean won (€3,689) for " cyber defamation" and "defamation against the deceased".

Lee Hee-ho, age 95, remains an influential figure in South Korea. It is unclear how widespread the rumour about her alleged romance with Dr Dre was.

Dr Dre, real name Andre Romelle Young, is a founding member of rap group NWA and founder of a record company which has signed the likes of Snoop Dog, Tupac Shakur and Young Soldierz.

His is one of the world's wealthiest music celebrities after the sale of Beats Electronics to Apple for $3 billion in 2015.

Lee was the first lady of South Korea from 1998 to 2003. Her late husband won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for his policies while in office.