`Man-Man-Hoi is non-existant,` says president`s former aide

Jeong Yoon-hoi, who has been pointed out as top heavyweight of an unofficial aide group to President Park Geun-hye called "Man-Man-Hoi," denied allegations saying, " Man-Man- Hoi does not exist." He filed a civil suit against weekly magazine Sisa Press.

At the first trial Wednesday on the lawsuit for damage compensation and correction report held through a hearing by Seoul Central District Court, his attorney said, "Jeong is not a public figure but a private man. Suspicions by Sisa Press have no substance."

In response, Sisa Press legal representative said, "This is an issue of social interest and we have grounds to believe that a series of reports including that of tailing Park Ji-man (President Park`s younger brother) are true. No illegality exists." On Jeong`s claim that Sisa Press has responsibility of family bankruptcy, the magazine`s representative said, "(Jeong`s) wife applied for divorce arbitration on March 27 and the article was released after April."

Jeong filed a damage compensation suit of 200 million won (180,773 U.S. dollars) in July against Sisa Press and sued related reporters with prosecution on defamation.