Vice President Kim Sik, the third-generation heir of the domestic farm machinery listed company TYM Co., who was brought to trial on charges of driving after taking drugs, was acquitted in the first trial.
Criminal Division 4 Single Judge of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Park Kang-kyun) on the 26th acquitted Vice President Kim, who was indicted on charges of violating the Road Traffic Act.
Vice President Kim is the grandson of the late honorary chairman Kim In-deuk, founder of BYUCKSAN Group, and the second son of current TYM Co. Chairman Kim Hee-yong. Vice President Kim is the largest shareholder with 20.30% equity in TYM Co. and serves as the chief operating officer (COO). Within the group, he is called a "next-generation manager."
Vice President Kim was indicted on charges of causing two traffic accidents around Gangnam, Seoul, in July last year while under the influence of psychotropic medications, including methylphenidate, prescribed by a hospital.
At the sentencing hearing that day, the court said, "The medicines the defendant (Vice President Kim Sik) took can cause dizziness and are used for insomnia, and they may have a central nervous system arousal effect, but a considerable amount of time had passed since they were taken the night before the traffic accident and the morning of the day."
It added, "It is difficult to conclude that the defendant was unable to drive a car normally due to the effects of the drugs," and "the primary physician also said there were no side effects from the defendant's medication."
The court also said, "Even if it is true that the defendant staggered after the traffic accident, there is room to view it as due to a preexisting mental illness and being flustered after the accident," and "it cannot be ruled out that the defendant's slurred speech is a physical characteristic rather than the result of taking medication."
With Vice President Kim acquitted, it appears that TYM Co. has moved past one stage of its management control crisis.
Vice President Kim, who inherited TYM Co. equity from Chairman Kim Hee-yong and now oversees the company's operations, faced questions about his qualifications inside and outside the company due to this alleged violation of the Road Traffic Act. However, the prevailing view is that this ruling has partially eased the risk.
Meanwhile, Vice President Kim appeared at the sentencing hearing wearing a black suit. After the hearing ended, he left the courtroom with his older sister, Executive Director Kim So-won of TYM Co. (chief strategy officer), and his attorney, briefly spoke outside, and then exited the Seoul Central District Court building.