The special prosecutor’s team has requested a postponement of the trial for Kim Keon-hee, wife of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, which was scheduled for May 16. The trial concerns allegations including stock price manipulation, the acceptance of donations from a unification group, and receiving favorable public opinion poll results without compensation. The request for a delay was submitted to the Supreme Court on May 14.
Special Prosecutor Cites Precedent in Yoon Suk-yeol’s Political Funds Case
A spokesperson for the special prosecutor’s team stated that the request for a trial adjournment was made to allow for the submission of supplementary arguments. These arguments are intended to reflect the recent ruling in the political funds case involving former President Yoon Suk-yeol, which was decided on May 13. The special prosecutor’s office aims to present an opinion to the court arguing that Kim Keon-hee should be held accountable in a similar manner to the former president.
On May 13, the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 33 (presided over by Judge Lee Jin-gwan) found former President Yoon Suk-yeol guilty of violating the Political Funds Act. The court determined that Yoon received approximately 13.96 million South Korean won (around $10,000 USD) in political funds from the ruling People Power Party’s coffers, stemming from his receipt of public opinion poll results from a Mr. Myung Tae-gyun without compensation. As a result, Yoon was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay a fine of 13.96 million won.
Kim Keon-hee, who faced similar charges as part of a joint indictment with former President Yoon, was acquitted in both the first and second trials. However, the special prosecutor’s team intends to file an opinion with the appellate court, emphasizing the conviction of former President Yoon, who is considered a co-defendant in the broader context of the case.
Allegations Against Kim Keon-hee and Former President Yoon
The allegations against former President Yoon Suk-yeol involve receiving approximately 270 million won (about $200,000 USD) worth of public opinion poll data from Mr. Myung between June 2021 and March 2022, without compensation. He was indicted on charges of influencing the appointment of a former lawmaker, Kim, in return for this data. The special prosecutor’s office believes that Mr. Myung and the former president had a tacit understanding to obtain and utilize these public opinion polls, which subsequently influenced Yoon’s decision to appoint Kim to a parliamentary position after the presidential election.
While the first and second trial courts for Kim Keon-hee’s case ruled she was not acting under the instruction or in agreement with Mr. Myung regarding the public opinion polls, the first trial court for former President Yoon’s case reached a different conclusion. The court stated that Kim had provided specific instructions to Mr. Myung regarding the methodology of the polls, and Yoon received this information and tacitly agreed. The court concluded that an implicit agreement existed among the three individuals concerning the provision of public opinion poll data.
However, the second trial court for former President Yoon’s case did acknowledge Kim Keon-hee’s involvement in other charges. Specifically, it found her guilty of stock price manipulation related to Deutsch Motors and the acceptance of donations from a unification group. For these offenses, she was sentenced to four years in prison and fined 50 million won (approximately $37,000 USD).
Background of the Legal Proceedings
The initial charges against Kim Keon-hee stemmed from allegations that she was involved in stock price manipulation concerning Deutsch Motors shares and accepted donations from a unification group. The first and second trial courts acquitted her of these charges, citing a lack of evidence proving she acted under instruction or in concert with Mr. Myung regarding the public opinion poll data. The courts found no direct agreement or collusion between Kim and Mr. Myung in relation to the poll data provision.
Conversely, the first trial court for former President Yoon’s case did find evidence of an implicit agreement. It determined that Kim Keon-hee had communicated specific polling methodologies to Mr. Myung, and that Yoon, upon receiving this information, had tacitly consented. This led the court to conclude that a silent understanding existed among the three parties regarding the provision of poll data, which was deemed a violation of the Political Funds Act.
The special prosecutor’s team is now seeking to leverage the conviction of former President Yoon to argue for a reconsideration of Kim Keon-hee’s acquittal on related charges. The core of their argument is that if Yoon, as the former president, was found guilty of violating the Political Funds Act in connection with these poll data provisions, then Kim Keon-hee, as a party involved, should also face accountability. The request for a delay is crucial for the special prosecutor to formally submit these supplementary arguments and evidence to the Supreme Court, allowing the court to consider the precedent set by the former president’s ruling.
Conclusion
The special prosecutor’s decision to request a trial adjournment for Kim Keon-hee underscores the legal team’s strategy to build a case based on the recent conviction of former President Yoon Suk-yeol. By citing the ruling in the political funds case, the special prosecutor aims to persuade the Supreme Court to re-evaluate Kim Keon-hee’s involvement and potentially overturn her previous acquittals on charges related to the public opinion poll data. The outcome of this request and the subsequent arguments will be pivotal in the ongoing legal proceedings.
