Kim Changho, a member of the Uiryeong County Council in South Gyeongsang Province, who was put on trial on charges of receiving 5 million won from a livestock feed businessman and providing expensive padded jackets to fellow council members and council secretariat staff, was found guilty in the first trial and sentenced to a penalty that results in the loss of his position.
On June 25, the 1st Criminal Division of the Masan Branch of the Changwon District Court (Presiding Judge Han Ji-hyung) sentenced Kim to one year in prison, suspended for two years, and a fine of 10 million won for charges including bribery and violation of the Political Funds Act. The court also ordered the forfeiture of 4,725,000 won.
Kim Changho, a member of the Uiryeong County Council, was convicted of bribery and violation of the Political Funds Act. Photo by Juso Eun
The livestock feed businessman, referred to as Mr. A, who was indicted and tried together with Kim, was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for one year, and ordered to forfeit 275,000 won. In addition, public official Mr. B was given a suspended sentence of a 2 million won fine.
Previously, at the sentencing hearing held on May 16, the prosecution had requested that Kim be sentenced to two years in prison, a fine of 10 million won, and forfeiture of 4,725,000 won.
In court, Kim denied the charges, arguing that there was no quid pro quo or job-related connection, and that the money received was unrelated to political funds. However, the court did not accept Kim's argument.
During the trial, the court found that there was a job-related connection between Kim and Mr. A, considering Kim's instructions to budget staff regarding subsidies and the fact that Mr. A was operating a business.
The court also found Kim guilty of bribery. The court determined that the 5 million won in question was sufficient to raise doubts about the fairness of official duties, regardless of whether subsidies were provided to Mr. A's company.
The court stated, "Crimes such as bribery and violation of the Political Funds Act undermine the very foundation of democracy and are of a serious nature," and added, "Kim used his position to receive bribes and political funds, and there are circumstances suggesting that he gave various instructions or attempted to persuade others to conceal the crime in the early stages of the investigation. These factors were comprehensively considered in determining the sentence."
Regarding public official Mr. B, the court explained, "Although Mr. B participated despite knowing, based on his experience as a public servant, that his actions at the time were inappropriate, he truthfully testified from the beginning of the case, despite his position as a public servant and the persuasion by defendant Kim Changho, thereby helping to reveal the facts. This was taken into account in determining the sentence."
If this sentence is upheld by the Supreme Court, Kim will lose his position. Elected public officials lose their positions if they are convicted of violating the Political Funds Act and receive a confirmed sentence of a fine of 1 million won or more.
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