The special counsel's office investigating Kim Keon-hee has sought a 15-year prison sentence in her appeals trial on charges including Deutsche Motors stock manipulation and receiving gifts from the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (Unification Church).
At the final arguments hearing held Thursday before the 15-2 Criminal Division of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Shin Jong-oh), the special counsel requested "11 years in prison, a 2 billion won ($1.4 billion) fine, and forfeiture of 832 million won for violations of the Capital Markets Act and bribery charges, and 4 years in prison with forfeiture of 137.2 million won for political funds law violations." This matches the sentence sought in the first trial.
"The profits from market manipulation and the amount of bribes received are not insignificant," the special counsel stated. "The social shock caused by the defendant's crimes is enormous, yet the original sentence was far too lenient."
The prosecution added that "the method of receiving free polling services from Myung Tae-kyun with former President Yoon Suk Yeol undermined electoral transparency and public trust," and that Kim "violated constitutional values by abusing her position as the spouse of the president-elect, who holds influence over party nominations as the highest authority."
Kim faces charges of participating as a financial backer in the 2009-2012 Deutsche Motors stock manipulation scheme, allegedly gaining approximately 800 million won in profits, and receiving free polling services from political broker Myung Tae-kyun. She is also accused of receiving two Chanel bags and a British Graff diamond necklace from the Unification Church in exchange for lobbying favors.
The first trial court in January this year ruled not guilty on the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case and the free polling allegations. However, regarding gifts received from the Unification Church for lobbying purposes, the court found Kim guilty of receiving one Chanel bag on July 5, 2022, and a British Graff necklace on July 29 of the same month, sentencing her to 1 year and 8 months in prison.
In Thursday's closing arguments, the special counsel emphasized that Kim's stock manipulation charges represent "a classic crime of systematically undermining the securities market for private gain." The prosecution stated that Kim "was approached by Kwon Oh-su, then CEO of Deutsche Motors, to participate in the scheme and provided substantial funds and accounts to the market manipulation ring," adding that "the defendant must have been fully aware that stock prices would be artificially inflated through the manipulation ring."
Regarding the free polling services, the special counsel explained that "statements, audio recordings, and polling results confirm that the defendant and her spouse did not merely receive results from Myung, but contributed to shaping public opinion favorable to former President Yoon's political interests."
On the Chanel bag for which she was acquitted, the prosecution emphasized that "the defendant told former Unification Church World Headquarters Director Yoon Young-ho to contact her directly with any concerns, and receiving a Chanel bag one week later means she must have been fully aware that lobbying was involved."