On September 22, the Seoul High Court Criminal Division 15-3 (Presiding Judges Sung Eon-joo, Won Ik-sun, and Lee Hee-jun) will hold the appellate sentencing hearing for Kim Keon-hee on charges of aggravated bribery and mediation under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes.

Kim is accused of receiving 103.8 million won worth of luxury items, including a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace, a Tiffany & Co. brooch, and a Graff pair of earrings, from Lee Bong-kwan, chairman of Sehee Construction, in exchange for a personnel favor regarding his eldest son-in-law between March 15 and May 20, 2022.

She is also accused of receiving a 39.9 million won Vacheron Constantin wristwatch in September of the same year from a robot business operator surnamed Seo in exchange for business support favors, and Dior bags worth a total of 5.4 million won from Reverend Choi Jae-young between June and September in connection with official government duties.

Additional charges include receiving a 2.65 million won golden turtle and a replica of Sehando from former National Education Commission Chairperson Lee Bae-yong on April 26, 2022, in exchange for an appointment favor, and a 140 million won painting by artist Lee Ufan from former senior prosecutor Kim Sang-min around February of the following year in exchange for a nomination favor.

While Kim has denied receiving valuables or engaging in specific lobbying, the first-instance court found all charges guilty and sentenced her to seven years in prison.

The independent counsel team has asked the court to hand down the same sentence as the first trial during the appeal proceedings.

During the final hearing of her appeal, Kim reiterated her innocence, stating, "I should have been more cautious, but I cannot admit to things I never did."

On September 21, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 26 (Presiding Judge Lee Hyun-kyung) will deliver its first-instance verdict on charges of engaging in important missions in an insurrection against former Defense Security Commander Yeo In-hyung, former Capital Defense Commander Lee Jin-woo, and others.

Also awaiting verdicts that day are former Army Chief of Staff Park An-su, former Army Special Warfare Commander Kwak Jong-keun, and former Defense Intelligence Commander Moon Sang-ho, who were indicted together.

They were put on trial for deploying troops to the National Assembly and the National Election Commission and forming and operating politicians' arrest squads during the emergency martial law.

On the same day, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 23 (Presiding Judge Oh Se-yong) will issue its first-instance ruling on charges including abuse of power against former Presidential Secretary for General Affairs Yoon Jae-soon and People Power Party lawmaker Lim Jong-deuk, who were indicted over suspicions of intervention in National Security Office personnel appointments.

(Photo: Yonhap News)