Court Approves Live Broadcast of Kim Keon-hee's 'Office-Selling' Trial Verdict on the 26th

The first-instance verdict for First Lady Kim Keon-hee regarding the "office-selling" scandal, scheduled for the 26th, will be broadcast live on television.

The Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Agreement Division 21 (Presiding Judge Cho Soon-pyo) has granted permission for the live broadcast of the sentencing hearing for Kim, who is charged with violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes (mediation of influence), to be held at 2:00 PM this Friday (the 26th).

The court approved the broadcast requests submitted by the Special Prosecutor's team led by Min Joong-ki and various broadcasting companies.

The proceedings will be filmed using the court's own equipment and transmitted to broadcasting stations in real time.

A recorded version of the verdict will also be distributed after the hearing concludes.

The court has previously permitted the live broadcasting of sentencing hearings for certain cases that garner significant public interest, citing the public good.

Kim was indicted last December on charges including the receipt of jewelry worth a total of 103.8 million won, such as a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace, from Seohee Construction Chairman Lee Bong-kwan between March and May 2022 in exchange for personnel favors for his eldest son-in-law.

She is also accused of receiving a gold turtle statue worth 2.65 million won from former National Education Committee Chairperson Lee Bae-yong on April 26, 2022, in exchange for an appointment request.

Furthermore, she faces charges of receiving a Vacheron Constantin wristwatch worth 39 million won from a robot dog entrepreneur surnamed Seo in September of the same year in exchange for business support requests.

Additional charges include receiving Dior bags and other items worth a total of 5.4 million won from Pastor Choi Jae-young between June and September of the same year in connection with requests related to public official duties, as well as receiving a painting by artist Lee Ufan worth 140 million won from former Chief Prosecutor Kim Sang-min in February 2023 in exchange for nomination requests.

During the final hearing on the 15th of last month, the Special Prosecutor's team demanded a seven-year-and-six-month prison sentence for Kim, stating, "This was an act of 'selling offices' where she repeatedly received money and valuables by using her status as the President's spouse to treat the President's various authorities as subjects of private transactions."

Kim's side has maintained her innocence, arguing that while she did receive gifts, there were no specific requests attached to them.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.