Violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act and Political Funds Act
Kim Sangmin: "I only brokered the painting with funds received from Kim Gunhee's brother"
Former Chief Prosecutor Sangmin Kim, who was involved in the "Myeong Taegyun Nomination Interference" case, is appearing as a suspect on the 9th at the Kim Gunhee Special Prosecution Team set up in the KT Gwanghwamun Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, responding to reporters' questions. 2025.9.9 Photo by Cho Yongjun
The pretrial detention hearing (warrant review) for former Chief Prosecutor Sangmin Kim will be held on the 17th.
Former Chief Prosecutor Kim is under suspicion of giving an expensive painting to First Lady Kim Gunhee and requesting a nomination in return.
The Seoul Central District Court announced on the 12th that the warrant review for former Prosecutor Kim will take place at 2:30 p.m. on the 17th, presided over by Chief Judge Park Jungho, who is in charge of warrants.
The special prosecutor team led by Min Jungki, which is investigating allegations related to the First Lady, requested an arrest warrant for former Prosecutor Kim on this day on charges of violating the Political Funds Act and the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act.
The special prosecutor team confirmed that former Prosecutor Kim delivered the painting "From Point No. 800298" by artist Lee Ufan to Kim Jinwoo, the brother of the First Lady, and applied charges of violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act.
The special prosecutor team plans to focus on whether the First Lady's side helped former Prosecutor Kim secure a nomination in last year's April 10 general election and an appointment as a legal advisor to the National Intelligence Service in exchange for the painting.
Former Prosecutor Kim maintains that the painting was not given as a quid pro quo for the nomination or any other solicitation.
Appearing before the special prosecutor team on the 9th, former Prosecutor Kim stated, "The painting was not mine; I only brokered it at the request of Kim Jinwoo. I do not know the source of the funds, but I can confirm that the money came from Kim Jinwoo."
The special prosecutor team also charged former Prosecutor Kim with receiving illegal political funds (violation of the Political Funds Act).
Former Prosecutor Kim is also suspected of having the cost of renting a campaign vehicle paid by a third party associated with an individual named Park while preparing to run in last year's April 10 general election.
Park, who was known as "Jonberkim" or "Coin King," is currently on trial for issuing and listing the scam coin "Podo" between February 2021 and April 2022, and fraudulently obtaining 80.9 billion won.
In September 2023, while still serving as a chief prosecutor, Kim sent text messages to residents in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, stating, "I am a Changwon person to the bone," and subsequently pushed ahead with his candidacy in the general election.
Myeong Taekyun, a "political broker" who had previously assisted former Assemblywoman Kim Youngsun, has claimed that the First Lady said, "Support Prosecutor Sangmin Kim so that he can win in Uichang-gu, Changwon. If you do, you will be given a ministerial or public corporation president position after the election."
However, former Prosecutor Kim was ultimately eliminated during the nomination review process (cut-off) and was appointed as a legal advisor to the National Intelligence Service four months later, in August of last year.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
