Seoul – South Korea’s former First Lady, Kim Kun-hee, will learn her fate on Tuesday, as a court is set to deliver the first-ever sentencing in a live-broadcast civilian trial. The case, brimming with allegations of financial manipulation, political interference, and connections to a controversial religious group, has gripped the nation.
The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Agreement Division 27, presided over by Judge Woo In-seong, is scheduled to announce its sentencing decision at 2:10 p.m. on Tuesday. Kim faces charges including violations of the Capital Markets Act, the Political Funds Act, and bribery under the Aggravated Punishment Act for Specific Crimes.
Kim Kun-hee was arrested and indicted on August 29 of last year by a special prosecution team led by Special Prosecutor Min Joong-ki. Prosecutors allege she conspired with former Deutsche Motors Chairman Kwon Oh-soo and former Black Pearl Investment CEO Lee Jong-ho to manipulate stock prices between October 2010 and December 2012, allegedly netting 810 million won in illicit profits. The prosecution characterized the relationship between Kim and the two men as that of “accomplices.”
She is also accused of conspiring with her husband, former President Yoon, to receive free opinion polls totaling 270 million won from political broker Tae-gyun Myung over 58 instances between June 2021 and March 2022. Former President Yoon is also considered an accomplice in this matter, though he was not indicted alongside Kim and Mr. Myung pending further investigation into the Political Funds Act violations. The application of the Political Fund Act charge, rather than bribery, was reportedly influenced by Kim’s former position as First Lady.
Furthermore, Kim is accused of colluding with a shaman, Jeon Seong-bae, to receive favors related to support for the Unification Church from April 2022 to July of the same year, allegedly receiving money and valuables worth 80 million won.
On December 3 of last year, the special prosecution team requested a 15-year prison sentence. They sought 11 years in prison, a 2 billion won fine, and a forfeiture of 811.44 million won for the charges related to Deutsche Motors stock manipulation and alleged bribes from the Unification Church. An additional four years in prison and a 137.2 million won fine were requested for the alleged receipt of free opinion poll results prior to the presidential election. The prosecution argued that while accomplices in the stock manipulation case were being tried, Kim “existed outside the law of the Republic of Korea and reigned above the law,” and accused her of “colluding with religious groups to destroy the constitutional principle of separation of church and state, and to destroy the fairness of elections.”
A central legal question revolves around the alleged violation of political fund laws. The prosecution maintains that Kim was part of a ‘political community’ with former President Yoon, and that the cost of the opinion polls constituted illegal election expenses. They claim the polls were conducted with at least the tacit consent of both Kim and her husband. Kim’s defense, however, asserts she never requested the polls and that they were provided unsolicited by Mr. Myung. Former President Yoon did not cooperate with the special prosecutor’s investigation regarding these charges. The court’s interpretation of the alleged ‘political community’ will be crucial.
The verdict on the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation charges is also anticipated to be divided. A key point of contention is whether Kim was a simple investor or an “accomplice” who knowingly provided accounts and funds for the manipulation. The prosecution alleges Kim actively participated by responding to instructions and receiving a guarantee of principal. Kim’s defense maintains her account was used without her knowledge for manipulative purposes.
Regarding the alleged solicitation from the Unification Church, the issue centers on whether a specific promise was made and whether any quid pro quo actions occurred. While the prosecution claims proof of received money and valuables, and subsequent support for a Unification Church-promoted project with government funds, Kim’s defense characterizes the funds as gifts without expectation of return.
Also scheduled for sentencing on Tuesday is People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong, facing charges of receiving 100 million won in illegal political funds from the Unification Church, at 4 p.m. Earlier, at 3 p.m., a ruling is expected for former Unification Church World Headquarters head Yoon Young-ho, who allegedly provided funds and valuables to Kim through Jeon Seong-bae. The special prosecution team has requested four years in prison for both Rep. Kwon and former World Headquarters Director Yoon.
/Reporter Choi Ki-cheol
