Kim Younghwan, Governor of Chungbuk Province, who is under suspicion of receiving money, had his appeal against the police search and seizure dismissed by the Supreme Court, after claiming the search was unlawful.
According to the legal community on January 11, the First Division of the Supreme Court dismissed on January 9 the appeal filed by Governor Kim, who had requested the cancellation of the police search and seizure order.
The Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Investigation Unit of the Chungbuk Provincial Police Agency received a tip-off that Governor Kim had accepted an envelope containing 5 million won from Yoon Hyunwoo, President of the Chungbuk Sports Council, and Yoon Dooyoung, President of the Chungbuk Volleyball Association. In August of last year, the police searched Governor Kim's office, securing his mobile phone and related materials.
Governor Kim's side asserted the illegality of the search and seizure, filing an immediate appeal with the Cheongju District Court in September of last year, but after it was dismissed, submitted a further appeal to the Supreme Court.
Governor Kim reportedly argued that the vehicle black box footage containing the phone conversation between President Yoon of the Sports Council and President Yoon of the Volleyball Association, which the police used as the basis for initiating their investigation, constitutes a "recording of a conversation between third parties" prohibited under the Protection of Communications Secrets Act. He also claimed that the footage was unlawfully removed without the consent of the vehicle owner, President Yoon of the Sports Council.
Governor Kim is accused of receiving a total of 11 million won in cash on two occasions from three sports officials, including President Yoon of the Sports Council and President Yoon of the Volleyball Association, as travel expenses ahead of overseas business trips in April and June of last year. He is also under investigation for allegedly having President Yoon of the Volleyball Association pay 20 million won for the interior renovation of his mountain cabin in Goesan on his behalf.
Governor Kim has denied all charges, stating, "I have never received any money."
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