Binggrae President Kim Dong-hwan (41) was fined in the second trial for assaulting police officers who were dispatched while he was being disruptive due to intoxication, the same penalty as in the first trial. President Kim is the eldest son of Binggrae Chairman Kim Ho-yeon.
The Seoul Western District Court's Criminal Appeals Division 2-1 (Chief Judge Director General Jeong Seong-kyun) fined President Kim 5 million won on the 17th for obstructing the duty of public officials. President Kim was also fined 5 million won in the first trial. The prosecution sought a six-month prison sentence with a one-year stay of execution in the second trial, the same as in the first trial.
The court stated, "It is clear that there are parts of the defendant's obstruction of public duty that are not understandable, but we dismiss the prosecutor's appeal."
President Kim, dressed in a suit and wearing a black mask, left the courtroom without answering questions from reporters immediately after the verdict.
President Kim was prosecuted for multiple assaults on police officers who were dispatched in response to a resident's report after he caused a disturbance due to intoxication in an apartment complex in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on June 17th of last year.
The first trial concluded, "Considering the circumstances of the crime, responsibility cannot be seen as light," but also stated that "the reflection letter submitted after the trial and the petition written by his spouse indicate that he is reflecting on his wrongdoing, and the police victims appealed for leniency, which was reflected in the sentencing," resulting in a fine of 5 million won. The prosecution appealed, arguing that the sentence was unjust.
President Kim, who is the third-generation owner of Binggrae, joined the company in 2014, was promoted to an executive in 2021, and became president in March of last year. This incident occurred just three months after his appointment as president.