From a Herald Business interview dated November 3, 2017.
"What stands out is the appellate court's finding that 'the information obtained through the hack was actually used in the extortion offenses.' In a suit over a personal data breach, a user must prove two things: that the information was leaked through the company's carelessness, and what harm they actually suffered as a result. The fact that the hackers used the accommodation data to threaten Goodchoice users looks likely to be a powerful piece of evidence in proving harm to customers. If it can be shown that the information that got out was used in crime or exploited for profit, over and above the simple fact of mental harm from a data leak, the award may be larger.
Attorney Geonho Park of Law Firm Changchun, who represents the victims of the data breach, said: 'The outcome of criminal proceedings is powerful evidence in civil litigation too,' adding, 'The damages suit has only had its first hearing, but the position has clearly become favorable.' The personal data Nam and the others hacked was also found to have been used to send messages causing sexual humiliation to Goodchoice users, along the lines of 'Did you enjoy yourself at XX (name of accommodation) on such-and-such a date?'"