'Asset Manager of Jo Guk Couple' Kim Kyung-rok Receives Suspended Sentence in Appeal Trial

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] Kim Kyung-rok, a securities firm private banker (PB) who acted as the asset manager for former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk and his wife, Dongyang University professor Jung Kyung-shim, was sentenced to a suspended prison term in the appellate court as well.

On the 5th, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Appeal Division 8-1 (Presiding Judges Kim Ye-young, Lee Won-shin, Kim Woo-jung) sentenced Kim to 8 months in prison with a 2-year suspension, the same as the first trial, in the appeal trial on charges of evidence concealment.

Kim was indicted for hiding three hard disks from the personal computer at Professor Jung's residence and one computer from her office at Dongyang University, following her instructions, after the investigation into the private equity fund allegations intensified in August 2019.

On this day, the court pointed out, "The defendant committed the crime despite recognizing that computers could be crucial evidence as public interest in various corruption allegations was rising and investigative agencies could conduct searches and seizures, making it difficult to uncover the substantive truth."

However, the court ruled, "The defendant appears to have committed the crime by actively following Jung Kyung-shim's request. It cannot be seen as the defendant's initiative, and it should be regarded as confirming Jung Kyung-shim's intention."