Prosecution Requests 3 Million Won Fine for Kim Hye-kyung on Election Law Violation Charges

The prosecution requested a fine of 3 million won for Kim Hye-kyung, the spouse of former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, who was indicted on charges of providing meals to Democratic Party figures using the Gyeonggi Province corporate card during the party's primary election in the last presidential election.

On the 25th, at the sentencing hearing for Kim's violation of the Public Official Election Act held by the Criminal Division 13 of Suwon District Court (Presiding Judge Park Jeong-ho), the prosecution asked the court to sentence Kim to a fine of 3 million won.

The prosecution stated, "This case involves the defendant attempting to bribe spouses of current and former members of the National Assembly to ensure that former Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung was elected as the Democratic Party's presidential candidate. Regardless of the amount of the donation, the nature of the crime is serious."

They added, "(The recipients of the donations) were spouses of four-term lawmakers and former speakers of the National Assembly, and these current and former lawmakers are senior and veteran politicians who exert considerable influence within the Democratic Party. Donations to spouses also inevitably have a significant impact on elections. This is on a different level from ordinary donations."

Furthermore, "The defendant committed an additional four acts of donation (statute of limitations expired) besides this case, and this case is part of continuous, repetitive, organized, and planned donation acts. There is a need to strictly enforce the law against the defendant's use of public officials, who should maintain political neutrality and not interfere in elections, in this crime," the prosecution argued.

They continued, "The defendant has consistently denied the charges, clouding the issues and making excuses that go against common sense as if the prosecution indicted without evidence or legal basis. The fact that the defendant shifts responsibility to a close aide, Bae Mo, who has handled private affairs for over 10 years, and shows no sign of remorse should also be reflected in sentencing considerations," they said.

On that day, from 9:37 a.m. for about 1 hour and 20 minutes, the prosecution presented their final opinion, outlining ▲ the gist of the charges ▲ evidence recognizing the conspiracy between the defendant and accomplices ▲ false testimonies and baseless claims by the defendant and witnesses, before making their sentencing request.

The court recessed during lunch and will resume the trial in the afternoon to hear the defense counsel's final argument and the defendant's final statement, then set the date for the verdict.

Kim was prosecuted on charges of donation for providing meals worth approximately 104,000 won on August 2, 2021, at a restaurant in Seoul to three spouses of current and former Democratic Party lawmakers, her own driver, and three aides, after Lee's declaration to run in the party's presidential primary. Kim's side denied the charges in court, stating, "At the time, the defendant thought that other companions would have paid their own bills, and the defendant was completely unaware that the meal expenses for the three companions were paid using the Gyeonggi Province corporate card."