Actress Kim Gyu-ri Receives National Compensation as Blacklist Lawsuit Concludes After 8 Years

Actress Kim Gyu-ri has been recognized for damages suffered due to the National Intelligence Service's (NIS) cultural blacklist during the Lee Myung-bak administration, with her eight-year legal battle finally concluding after the state's responsibility for compensation was confirmed.

The NIS's decision to drop its appeal of the second-instance ruling brought an end to the lawsuit that began in 2017. Kim Gyu-ri took to her social media on the 9th to share the news of the finalized verdict and express her complex emotions.

"The verdict is finally confirmed. I want to stop being in pain now," she began, adding, "The trauma is so severe that even hearing the letter 'B' from 'blacklist' makes me have a seizure," hinting at the depth of suffering she endured.

The specific examples of damage she mentioned on social media were shocking. Beyond simple exclusion from programs, she faced phone calls from 'somewhere' the moment she appeared on screen at awards ceremonies, and received sudden cancellations for roles on the day of contract signings, which became routine.

Kim Gyu-ri revealed the immense psychological pressure she faced, stating, "When I first learned about the blacklist through the news and briefly expressed my feelings on social media, I received threats the next day saying, 'If you don't stay quiet, we'll kill you.'"

Despite her legal victory, a sense of bitterness lingers for Kim Gyu-ri. While the NIS issued an apology accepting the court's decision, she expressed her disappointment with the insincere apology, saying, "Who exactly are they apologizing to? It feels like they just said it for the articles. The scars remain, and it just feels empty."

However, she held onto hope, expressing gratitude to those who stood by her: "I send my warm comfort and support to my legal team and my senior colleagues who suffered because of the blacklist. You all worked so hard."

Fans are eagerly anticipating and supporting Kim Gyu-ri's return to her acting career, hoping she can now move past this long dark tunnel and focus on her work.

The NIS officially apologized, stating, 'We deeply apologize to the victims and the public for the inconvenience and suffering caused by the past administration's abuse of power and illegal activities during the cultural blacklist incident.' However, Kim Gyu-ri's reaction indicated that the apology lacked sincerity, highlighting the deep scars left by the ordeal.