The appellate ruling in the cases involving Kim Keon-hee's alleged Deutsch Motors stock manipulation, free provision of opinion polls, and receipt of valuables from the Unification Church will be broadcast from the courtroom on the 28th. This is the first time a second-instance ruling in a case indicted by the special counsel investigating Kim Keon-hee has been aired live.
The Criminal Division 15-2 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding High Court Judge Shin Jong-o) accepted a broadcaster's request to air live the appellate sentencing hearing scheduled for 3 p.m. on the 28th in Kim's case on charges of violating the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, the Political Funds Act, and the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (bribe brokering). The court will film the proceedings with court equipment and transmit them in real time to broadcasters.
Kim was brought to trial on charges of participating as a front investor in the Deutsch Motors stock manipulation case and gaining about 810 million won in illicit profits, and of receiving, free of charge, opinion poll results worth around 270 million won from Myung Tae-gyun during the 2022 presidential race. The court is also hearing charges that, through Geonjin Jeon Seong-bae, she received valuables worth about 80 million won from the Unification Church, including two Chanel bags and a Graff diamond necklace, and worked to resolve issues facing the church.
At first instance, the court found Kim not guilty on the Deutsch Motors stock manipulation and opinion poll receipt counts, but recognized guilt only for receiving one bag and a necklace from the Unification Church side, and sentenced her to one year and eight months in prison. Both the special counsel and Kim appealed afterward.
At the appellate closing hearing on the 8th, the special counsel sought the same total sentence as at first instance: 15 years in prison. The special counsel asked the court to impose 11 years in prison, a fine of 2 billion won, and forfeiture of 832.3 million won for the Deutsch Motors stock manipulation and Unification Church valuables charges, and four years in prison and forfeiture of 137.2 million won for the Political Funds Act violation.
The Seoul High Court said the previous day it would also broadcast live on the 29th the appellate sentencing hearing in the case against former President Yoon Suk-yeol on charges including obstruction of special official duties. As a result, appellate rulings in cases related to the former presidential couple, indicted by the three special counsels, will be made public on consecutive days through courtroom broadcasts.