Lotte Liquor BG Co., a South Korean alcoholic beverage maker, said Tuesday that it has filed a 10 billion won ($9.2 million) damages lawsuit against its rival Hite Jinro Co. for harming its image and causing sales losses. 

According to Lotte Liquor BG, Hite Jinro spread slanderous gossip about “Cheoumcheorum,” the flagship soju brand of Lotte Liquor BG, after an Internet broadcasting station aired false information saying that the product is harmful to humans in March 2012. Soju is South Korea’s traditional distilled liquor.

Lotte Liquor BG claimed that Hite Jiro had even spent more than 60 million won in order to malign the image of its flagship product Cheoumcheorum.

The spread of false information and slander on Cheoumcherum by Hite Jinro caused a sharp fall in its local soju market share and sales losses, Lotte Liquor BG said.

Lotte Liquor BG said that Hite Jiro’s vicious slander has cost the company more than 100 billion won.

In response, Hite Jiro said it will take action against Lotte Liquor BG’s move.

Meanwhile, the prosecution indicted four officials of Hite Jinro without detention on charges of spreading false information on Cheoumcheorum at the end of last month. (Yonhap News)