The Supreme Court confirmed a 15-year prison sentence for Kim (68), who was indicted on charges of attempting to murder Lee Jae-myung, the former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, with a weapon.
The Supreme Court's second division (Chief Justice Oh Kyung-mi) held a ruling session for Kim's appeal, who faced charges of attempted murder and violating the Public Official Election Act, on the 13th and upheld the original 15-year prison sentence.
Kim was arrested and indicted for stabbing the left neck of former representative Lee around 10:29 a.m. on Jan. 2 last year, while moving around the Daehang Observatory at the site planned for the construction of Gimhae International Airport in Busan's Gangseo District. He was investigated for preparing the crime to obstruct Lee's exercise of nomination rights and candidacy ahead of the parliamentary elections.
The first trial court previously stated, "Attempting to kill a victim who is a member of the National Assembly simply because of differing political views is an attempt to destroy the electoral system and representative democracy, which should be determined by the free will of the people in accordance with the Constitution and legal procedures, and cannot be justified under any circumstances," and sentenced him to 15 years in prison.
The second trial court followed the first trial's ruling, noting, "Life is the highest value, and crimes that infringe upon it should be severely punished, even if the act is only attempted." The Supreme Court also stated that it could not be said that the second trial's ruling, which followed the first trial's judgment, was seriously unjust, and dismissed Kim's appeal.