Prosecution Appeals 'Gwak Sang-do Bribery Acquittal'... Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok Orders Strict Response

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] The prosecution has appealed against the first trial ruling that acquitted former lawmaker Kwak Sang-do of bribery charges.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office filed an appeal on the 13th with the Criminal Division 22 of the Seoul Central District Court (Chief Judge Lee Jun-cheol), which handled Kwak's first trial, citing factual errors and legal misunderstandings.

The prosecution stated that parts of the first trial ruling do not align with the overall evidence and legal principles, and also contradict social norms and common sense, and they plan to actively contest these points in the appellate trial.

Former People Power Party lawmaker Kwak Sang-do, accused of receiving bribes as severance pay for his son from the Daejang-dong group, is attending the first trial sentencing hearing related to violations of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 8th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Former lawmaker Kwak was indicted on charges of receiving 5 billion KRW (2.5 billion KRW after taxes, etc.) as severance pay and bonuses for his son Byung-chae, who worked at Hwacheon Daeyu until April 2021 and then resigned.

The prosecution sought a 15-year prison sentence, a fine of about 5 billion KRW, and a confiscation of 2.5 billion KRW against Kwak, but the court ruled that the 5 billion KRW was neither a bribe nor a commission and acquitted him.

On the morning of the same day, Song Kyung-ho, head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, received a report on the analysis of the ruling and future prosecution plans from the four members of the first investigation team responsible for the indictment and prosecution. Deputy Chief Prosecutor Ko Hyung-gon and Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 3 Chief Kang Baek-shin attended the meeting to discuss future prosecution strategies and investigation directions related to the '5 Billion Club' and other related cases. The prosecution plans to expand the personnel for maintaining the prosecution to overturn the first trial ruling.

Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok also ordered a strict response to the Kwak Sang-do case. Through the spokesperson's office, Prosecutor General Lee stated, "We are well aware of the public's will and concerns regarding the Kwak Sang-do case."

On the day after the verdict, the 9th, Prosecutor General Lee received a face-to-face report from Song Kyung-ho, head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, on the analysis of the first trial ruling and future plans, urging a strict response. On the same day, he summoned Yoo Jin-seung, head of the National Financial Crime Joint Investigation Team and the trial team leader, instructing him to ensure thoroughness in trial work.