[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Former Environment Minister Kim Eun-kyung was sentenced to prison again in the appeal trial of the so-called 'Ministry of Environment Blacklist' case.
The Seoul High Court Criminal Division 6-1 (Presiding Judge Kim Yong-ha) sentenced former Minister Kim to two years in prison on the afternoon of the 24th on charges including abuse of authority and obstruction of rights. Shin Mi-sook, former Blue House Secretary for Balanced Personnel, who was tried together on the same charges, was sentenced to one year in prison with a three-year probation. Both received reduced sentences compared to the first trial.
The court overturned the previous ruling of guilt on the grounds that some executives of public institutions had already completed their terms, and even if the Ministry of Environment accepted resignations and started appointing successors, it could not be considered abuse of authority, acquitting this part. It also acquitted some charges that were recognized as guilty in the first trial, such as obstruction of business in the selection process of executives under the Ministry of Environment and targeted audits (coercion).
Regarding the sentencing reasons, the court pointed out, "Former Minister Kim ignored the inherent authority of public officials and abused enormous power," adding, "Nevertheless, the defendant denies responsibility, claiming that she did not request resignations or support nominees and that it was the work of (Ministry of Environment) officials." About former Secretary Shin, the court said, "She caused severe deprivation to the public regarding public institution recruitment," and "Yet she shifts responsibility by saying that supporting executive nominees was something the officials did on their own."
Previously, former Minister Kim and others were prosecuted on charges of forcing executives of public institutions under the Ministry of Environment to submit resignations in 2017-2018 and placing individuals nominated by the Blue House or the Ministry of Environment in the vacant successor positions. The first trial sentenced former Minister Kim to two years and six months in prison and former Secretary Shin to one year and six months in prison with a three-year probation.
Former Minister Kim and former Secretary Shin appealed the verdict, and the prosecution, which had requested five years in prison for both in the first trial, also appealed. The prosecution requested the court to impose the same sentence as in the first trial during the appeal trial's closing arguments held last month.
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