A first-trial verdict will be handed down on the 28th in the case of First Lady Kim Keon-hee, People Power Party lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong, and former Family Federation for World Peace and Unification world headquarters Deputy Minister Yoon Young-ho, who were indicted and detained by the special counsel investigating Kim Keon-hee. The sentencing for Kim will be broadcast live.
The 27th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Woo In-seong, Director General) plans to hold the sentencing hearing for Kim at 2:10 p.m., then proceed with the sentencing for former Deputy Minister Yoon and lawmaker Kweon at 3 p.m.
Kim was indicted for: ▲ participating in the Deutsch Motors stock manipulation scheme and obtaining 810 million won in illicit gains (violation of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act); ▲ conspiring with former President Yoon Suk-yeol to receive, free of charge, public opinion polling worth 274.4 million won from Myung Tae-gyun (violation of the Political Funds Act); ▲ conspiring with "Geonjin" Jeon Seong-bae to receive valuables worth 80 million won, including a Chanel bag and a necklace, along with a request related to the denomination from a Unification Church contact (acceptance of brokerage bribes under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes). Related to this, the allegation that evidence was destroyed after the probe began is also being examined.
At the sentencing hearing on Dec. 3 last year, the special counsel asked the court to sentence Kim to 15 years in prison. The special counsel argued that a heavy sentence is necessary given the nature of the crimes and their social impact. Kim's side said the charges do not stand or are disputable.
Former Deputy Minister Yoon has been on trial for allegedly delivering a Chanel bag and a Graff diamond necklace to Kim through Jeon to seek favors on Unification Church pending issues. Lawmaker Kweon was indicted for receiving 100 million won in illegal political funds from former Deputy Minister Yoon in Jan. 2022 ahead of the presidential election.
The special counsel asked the court to sentence former Deputy Minister Yoon to four years in prison, and lawmaker Kweon to four years in prison and to order the forfeiture of 100 million won.
The court decided on the 27th to broadcast the first-trial sentencing for Kim live. Due to technical conditions, the broadcast may be slightly delayed.