A district court handed down a prison term in the first trial to former short track national team member Kim Dong-sung, who was sent to trial for failing to pay child support.
On the 10th, Judge Kang Young-seon of the Suwon District Court Criminal Division 14 (single judge) sentenced Kim, who was indicted without detention on charges of violating the Act on Securing and Supporting the Implementation of Child Support, to six months in prison. The term is heavier than the prosecution's request of four months.
He avoided being taken into custody in court. Judge Kang said, "Rather than detaining the defendant immediately, compelling payment of the unpaid child support within a set period appears more appropriate to protect the minor children."
Kim was previously indicted without detention on charges of failing to pay child support for two children raised by his ex-wife, identified only as A, since 2019 without justifiable reason. The unpaid child support was reported to be about 90 million won.
Judge Kang said, "When the defendant divorced a spouse in 2018, he was ordered to pay 3 million won monthly to two minor children but paid only part of it," adding, "Since then, for about three years and 10 months, he has not paid any child support at all."
The judge continued, "Considering factors such as the ex-spouse's petition for a heavy punishment, a prison sentence commensurate with the culpability is necessary," warning, "Although he is not being taken into custody in court, if he does not fulfill the payment obligation through the appeals trial, he may serve time."
Meanwhile, Kim married in 2004 and had one son and one daughter, but after divorcing in 2018, he formed a family in 2021 with his current wife.