With the charge of receiving money and valuables related to the Unification Church recognized as guilty and a sentence of 1 year and 8 months in prison handed down at the first trial, first lady Kim Keon-hee expressed the view that she "humbly accepts the court's stern rebuke."
On the 28th, Kim's defense team said in a media notice that "after today's verdict, we conducted an attorney visit with Ms. Kim at the Southern Detention Center," and released remarks Ms. Kim conveyed at the time.
According to the defense team, Ms. Kim said, "I humbly accept the court's stern rebuke and will never take its weight lightly," adding, "Once again, I am sorry to everyone for causing concern because of me and I reflect on it."
One attorney who met Ms. Kim at the detention center said, "Ms. Kim is accepting the current situation more calmly than expected," describing the mood. However, it was not confirmed whether Ms. Kim made any separate comments on the court's findings regarding the specific charges or the sentence.
Ms. Kim has repeatedly expressed her apologies with similar wording.
In her final statement at the sentencing hearing on Dec. 3 last year, Ms. Kim said, "There are many things that feel unfair, but it seems I have done too many wrongs compared with my role and qualifications," and added, "I am truly sorry to the people for causing great concern and I reflect on it."
At the time, when the special counsel team led by Min Joong-ki sought a 15-year prison term, saying "only the defendant has existed outside the law," Ms. Kim was seen giving a wry smile, stirring controversy.
Earlier, when she first appeared as a suspect before the special counsel team on Aug. 6 last year, she said at the photo line, "I am truly sorry to the people for causing concern even though I am a nobody."
That day, the Criminal Agreement Division 27 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Woo In-seong) found only the charge of brokered bribery guilty among the Deutsch Motors stock manipulation, Myeong Tae-gyun poll gratuity, and Unification Church luxury goods charges, and sentenced her to 1 year and 8 months in prison and a forfeiture of 12.815 million won.
As the special counsel team immediately expressed its intent to appeal the acquittals and the sentence, Ms. Kim is expected to continue the battle over guilt or innocence on the same charges in the appeals court.
In the appeals trial, the key issues are expected to be whether Ms. Kim can be considered an accomplice of the price-rigging group in the stock manipulation charge and whether the acquisition of property benefits can be recognized in the poll gratuity charge.
The suspicion over the Myeong Tae-gyun poll also involves former President Yoon Suk-yeol, who has been indicted on the same charge, drawing attention to how this ruling may affect that trial. Ms. Kim has also been indicted on charges of violating the Political Parties Act in connection with the collective party enrollment by Unification Church believers and of receiving money and valuables in exchange for public office, and faces a separate trial.