Suspicion of Official Secret Leakage, Suspended Prison Sentence
"Supreme Court Justice Urged to Deliver Verdict Before Term Expires"
Kim Tae-woo, the mayor of Gangseo District who lost his position after the Supreme Court confirmed a suspended prison sentence for leaking official secrets, criticized the court ruling on the 18th, saying, "If Cho Kuk (former Minister of Justice) is guilty, then Kim Tae-woo is innocent. This is common sense, justice, and the rule of law."
The Supreme Court's First Division (Presiding Justice Park Jeong-hwa) on the same day upheld the lower court's ruling sentencing Mayor Kim to one year in prison with a two-year suspension on charges of leaking official secrets. As a result, Kim lost his position as district mayor.
Kim, who was a member of the Blue House special inspection team, was indicted for exposing misconduct he learned in the course of his official duties from December 2018 to February 2019, including ▲ allegations of bribery against Woo Yoon-geun, Ambassador to Russia ▲ misconduct reports on Kim Sang-gyun, Chairman of Korea Railroad Corporation ▲ corruption among Airport Railroad employees ▲ leaked inspection materials related to KT&G situation reports ▲ and special inspection team intelligence reports.
On the day, Mayor Kim released a statement on Facebook, saying, "Due to the Supreme Court ruling, I am unable to fully carry out the precious duties of Gangseo District Mayor entrusted to me," but added, "Even if I temporarily step down from the mayoral position due to a political trial, the truth cannot be distorted."
Mayor Kim stated, "I am satisfied that my public interest report revealed corrupt officials and politicians that the Moon Jae-in administration tried to cover up, and that the wrongful practice of covering up mistakes on my side while digging up weaknesses on the opposing side has ended," adding, "It was a pure public interest report for the people, as a public servant serving the citizens, not for power."
He continued, "In 2019, the Moon Jae-in prosecution suddenly indicted 'whistleblower' Kim Tae-woo on charges of leaking official secrets, and the pro-government court under Chief Justice Kim Myung-soo accepted the prosecution's claims as they were."
He also raised suspicions about the court's ruling. Mayor Kim questioned, "Why were Chief Justice Kim Myung-soo, whose term ends in September, and Presiding Justice Park Jeong-hwa, who is leaving in July, in such a hurry to deliver the verdict in May before they were replaced?"
Finally, Mayor Kim said, "In the court of history, I, Kim Tae-woo, have won as a 'whistleblower' recognized by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission," and added, "I still have much work to do ahead."
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