'7-Year Prison Sentence and Court Detention' Kim Young-man, Gunwi County Governor, Prosecutors Also Appeal Against First Trial Rejection

The photo shows Kim Young-man, Gunwi County Governor, speaking at the "Ubo Airport Defense Nationwide Resolution Rally" held on July 27 at Gunwi Market in Gunwi County, Gyeongbuk.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] Kim Young-man, the mayor of Gunwi County, who was sentenced to 7 years in prison and detained in court on bribery charges, has appealed the first trial verdict. The prosecution, which had sought a 12-year sentence, also filed a counter-appeal, arguing that the sentence was too lenient.

According to the court on the 22nd, Kim's defense attorney submitted an appeal to the Daegu District Court's 11th Criminal Division (Chief Judge Kim Sang-yoon) on the same day, and it was confirmed that the prosecution also filed an appeal that day. The deadline for Kim's appeal was until the 25th.

The court sentenced Kim, who was indicted on charges of receiving a bribe of 200 million won as a reward for a private contract for a government construction project and coercing the public official who delivered the money to make a false confession, to 7 years in prison, a fine of 200 million won, and a confiscation of 200 million won, and detained him in court.

At the time, the court stated, "Considering the statements of the person who delivered the money and the contractor, all the charges are recognized as guilty," and added, "The crime is very serious and highly blameworthy, and since there is no remorse, a corresponding punishment is inevitable," recognizing all charges of bribery and aiding the escape of a criminal against Kim as guilty.

Previously, Kim, who was detained in connection with this case in November last year, requested the court to allow him to engage in activities to attract the airport ahead of the decision on the relocation site of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Integrated New Airport. He was released on bail on January 6 and has since been undergoing trial without detention.