'State Manipulation' Jang Si-ho and Kim Jong Acquitted of Coercion in Retrial... Sentence Reduced

Jang Si-ho Sentenced to 1 Year and 6 Months in Prison; Kim Jong Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] Among the charges against Jang Si-ho (41), the niece of Choi Seo-won (formerly Choi Soon-sil), who was indicted in the 'state affairs manipulation' case, and Kim Jong (59), former Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the coercion charges were acquitted in the retrial after remand, resulting in a slight reduction in their sentences.

The Seoul High Court Criminal Division 7 (Presiding Judges Seong Su-je, Yang Jin-su, Bae Jeong-hyun) on the 24th sentenced Jang to 1 year and 5 months in prison and former Vice Minister Kim to 2 years in prison in the retrial after remand.

This is a reduction compared to the previous appellate court sentences before the retrial after remand, where Jang was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months and former Vice Minister Kim to 3 years in prison.

Although the court sentenced both Jang and former Vice Minister Kim to imprisonment, considering that they had already served longer than the sentenced period, they were not detained in court.

The court ruled the coercion charges against both individuals as not guilty, in accordance with the Supreme Court’s judgment. Previously, the Supreme Court stated, "The act of demanding economic support for a specific sports organization from company representatives does not constitute intimidation under the crime of coercion," and sent the case back to the Seoul High Court.

Regarding Jang, the court explained the sentencing rationale, stating, "She effectively operated the Korea Winter Sports Gifted Center (Gifted Center) and managed its funds, embezzling money, making a prison sentence unavoidable," but also noted, "She admitted her wrongdoing and showed remorse, and it is difficult to judge the degree of her involvement in the crime as severe."

Regarding former Vice Minister Kim, the court criticized him, saying, "He participated in Choi Seo-won’s pursuit of personal gain by exerting inappropriate influence using his friendship with the former president," but also acknowledged, "He cooperated sincerely with the investigation and contributed significantly to uncovering the substantive truth."

Jang and former Vice Minister Kim were indicted for conspiring with Choi to pressure Samsung Group and Grand Korea Leisure (GKL) to provide sponsorship funds to the Gifted Center (charges of coercion and abuse of authority obstructing the exercise of rights).

Jang also faces charges of embezzling 240 million won in government subsidies while operating the Gifted Center (violation of the Subsidy Management Act and fraud) and embezzling 300 million won of the Gifted Center’s funds (embezzlement in the course of duty).