Special Prosecutor Seeks 15-Year Prison Term for Kim Gunhee: "Collapse of National Governance System"

On December 3, the special prosecutor's team requested a 15-year prison sentence for First Lady Kim Gunhee, who was indicted and detained on charges including stock manipulation related to Deutsche Motors.

The 27th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Su Inseong) held the sentencing hearing on this day for Kim Gunhee, who was charged with violating the Capital Markets Act, the Political Funds Act, and receiving illicit mediation fees.

On the 3rd, at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, the sentencing hearing for Kim Gunhee, who is accused of stock manipulation and solicitation related to the Unification Church, was held, with Kim Gunhee seated in the defendant's chair. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The special prosecutor's team requested 11 years in prison, a fine of 2 billion won, and the forfeiture of 811.44 million won for violations of the Capital Markets Act and illicit mediation charges. For the violation of the Political Funds Act, they requested a four-year prison sentence and the forfeiture of 137.2 million won.

The special prosecutor's team concluded that Kim Gunhee was deeply involved in manipulating the stock price of Deutsche Motors together with the stock manipulation group. The team stated, "After the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation crime, all accomplices stood before the court, but the defendant was the only exception," and added, "By colluding with a religious organization, she undermined the constitutional principle of separation of religion and state, and destroyed the integrity of elections and the representative democracy system, which are the foundations of democracy."

They further explained that the sentencing recommendation took into account the fact that she infringed upon constitutional values, showed no sign of remorse by completely denying the crimes, and that the nature of the offenses was particularly egregious.

In her final statement, Kim Gunhee bowed her head and said, "I sincerely apologize for causing great concern to the people."

The first trial verdict for Kim Gunhee is scheduled to be delivered on January 28 next year.