Lawyer Involved in 'Geonjin Beobsa' Brokerage Case Receives Reduced Sentence with Probation on Appeal

A lawyer indicted on charges of involvement in receiving money and valuables from a corporation in exchange for lobbying, tied to the figure known as "Geonjin Beobsa" Jeon Seong-bae, has had his prison sentence reduced to a suspended sentence on appeal.

On the 20th, Criminal Division 3 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Lee Seung-han) sentenced lawyer Kim, who was indicted under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes for accepting bribes through mediation, to one year in prison suspended for two years.

The first trial had sentenced him to one year and six months in prison and detained him in court, but following today's suspended sentence, he is scheduled to undergo immediate release procedures.

The appellate court, like the first trial, found Kim—who previously served as Jeon Seong-bae's lawyer—guilty of conspiring with Jeon to intervene in the process of receiving a total of 167 million won between September 2022 and October 2023 in exchange for mediating requests from the content company Conlab Company.

The court ruled that Kim, while recognizing—even if implicitly or with eventual dolus—Jeon's mediation activities, signed an advisory contract with Conlab Company at Jeon's request and used a portion of the funds received under the guise of advisory fees to cover expenses such as lease payments for Jeon's vehicle.

The court pointed out, "An implicit and sequential conspiracy was established between the defendant and Jeon Seong-bae regarding the reception of compensation for mediation, and the defendant carried out part of the compensation-receiving act essential to the completion of the crime."

However, regarding the charge (violation of the Attorney-at-Law Act) that Kim introduced a lawyer acquaintance to another defendant in a criminal case he was handling and received 25 million won in May 2024, the court overturned the guilty verdict of the first trial and dismissed the indictment.

Unlike the charge of accepting bribes through mediation, the court ruled that this charge fell outside the scope of investigation stipulated by the Special Prosecutor Act regarding Kim Keon-hee.

Regarding the sentencing, the court noted as unfavorable factors that "the amount of compensation for mediation received by the defendant along with Jeon Seong-bae is considerable, and the outcome undermined public trust in the fairness of the performance of official duties."

However, the court stated that the sentence was determined by considering favorable circumstances, such as the fact that Kim has no prior criminal record and that the charge of violating the Attorney-at-Law Act resulted in a dismissal of the indictment.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.