Kim Keonhee Indicted by Special Prosecutor on August 29
Charged with Stock Price Manipulation, Nomination Interference, and Unification Church Lobbying
Trial Begins on the 24th... Kim Expected to Appear in Court
Images and videos of Kim Keonhee, who has been indicted on charges including stock price manipulation, interference in party nominations, and Unification Church lobbying, sitting in the defendant's seat in court will be released to the public through the media.
Kim Keonhee, wife of former President Yoon Sukyeol, is leaving the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, after attending the pre-arrest hearing on the afternoon of the 12th. (Photo by Joint Press Corps)
On September 22, the 27th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Woo Inseong) announced that it has approved media requests to film inside the courtroom during Kim's first trial, which is scheduled for the 24th.
According to Supreme Court regulations regarding courtroom attendance and filming, photography is limited to before the start of the trial. The court stated, "For the maintenance of order and security in the courtroom, and to ensure smooth filming, recording will only be permitted in designated areas as agreed upon in advance," adding, "Once the presiding judge declares the end of filming, all filming must cease, and those involved must follow instructions to leave the courtroom accordingly."
Kim Keonhee is expected to attend the trial on the 24th without employing any stalling tactics. Her attorney told Asia Economy, "Except for pretrial preparation hearings, which she is not required to attend, she will be present at all court proceedings," adding, "She maintains her position of broadly denying the charges, as she cannot admit to acts she did not commit." Immediately after her indictment, Kim also released a statement from detention, saying, "I will not turn away from the path before me and will quietly face the trial."
Previously, the special prosecutor's team led by Min Junggi, which has been investigating various allegations against Kim, indicted her on August 29 while she was in custody. The charges include: participating as a main investor in the Deutsche Motors stock price manipulation case; interfering in party nominations after receiving free polling services from political broker Myung Taegyun; and, through Jeon Seongbae, known as Geonjin Bopsa, accepting lobbying requests from the Unification Church and receiving an expensive necklace. The special prosecutor's team summoned Kim five times after her detention, but she refused to make statements in most of the sessions.
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