Major trial schedule… 'Hindering the arrest of Yoon Seok-yeol' first trial, Unification Church Hak Ja Han's appeal trial begins
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Bitna Kim = The appeal trial in the case of former President Yoon Seok-yeol's violation of the Public Official Election Act, which will depend on whether or not the People Power Party returns 39.7 billion won in presidential election expenses, will conclude next week.
According to the legal community on the 11th, Criminal Division 2-1 of the Seoul High Court (Judges Baek Seung-yeop, Hwang Seung-tae, and Kim Young-hyun) will hold an appeal hearing on the 13th for former President Yoon's alleged violation of the Public Official Election Act.
The decision hearing was originally scheduled to be held on the 29th of last month, but was postponed once as the witness examination took longer.
At the decision trial, the final opinion and sentence of Special Prosecutor Min Joong-ki's team, and the final argument and final statement of former President Yoon's side are held in order.
Former President Yoon is accused of publishing false facts to the effect that "I have never introduced a lawyer named Lee (from the Central Investigation Department of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office) to former Yongsan Tax Office Chief Yoon Woo-jin at a debate invited to the Kwanhun Club on December 14, 2021, when he was a presidential candidate."
Former Chief Yoon Woo-jin is the older brother of former Prosecutor General Yoon Dae-jin, who was a close associate of former President Yoon Seok-yeol during his time as a prosecutor.
The special prosecutor's team believes that former President Yoon actually introduced a lawyer, but lied because he was concerned about a decline in approval ratings.
In an interview at the launch ceremony of the Buddhist Leaders Forum on January 17, 2022, there was also a charge of publicizing false information to the effect that "I was introduced to Geonjinbeopsa Jeon Seong-bae by a party official, and I have never met him with First Lady Kim Kun-hee."
The first trial found him guilty on the main charge and sentenced him to 1 year and 6 months in prison with probation.
If this sentence is confirmed, in accordance with the Public Official Election Act, the People Power Party must return to the National Election Commission the 39.7 billion won in election expenses it received during the 20th presidential election.
The first trial sentencing for independent lawmaker Kang Seon-woo and former Seoul city council member Kim Kyung, who were indicted on charges of exchanging 100 million won in exchange for city council member nominations, will be handed down on the 14th.
On this day, Chief Judge Lee Chun-geun of Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul Central District Court will hold a sentencing hearing for the case of Rep. Kang and former city councilor Kim on charges of violating the Political Fund Act.
In the previous decision trial, the prosecution sought 4 years in prison and a fine of 100 million won for Rep. Kang, and 2 years in prison for former city council member Kim. Mr. Nam, a former aide to Rep. Kang who arranged the meeting between the two, was sentenced to one year in prison.
Representative Kang and former city council member Kim were arrested and indicted last March on charges of meeting at a hotel in Yongsan-gu in January 2022 ahead of the local elections and exchanging shopping bags containing 100 million won in exchange for nominations. However, they were released on bail ahead of the expiration of their arrest on the 22nd of last month and sentenced to the first trial without detention.
Former Rep. Kim and Mr. Nam admitted the donation charge in court, but Rep. Kang has completely denied the charge.
Separately from this case, Rep. Kang and former city councilor Kim were additionally indicted last month on charges of donating over 130 million won in the names of dozens of people.
On the 16th, the first trial of former Presidential Office officials and former Minister of Public Administration and Security Lee Sang-min, who were indicted on charges of directing illegal budget diversion during the relocation of the presidential residence during the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, will conclude.
On this day, the 36th Criminal Agreement Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Chief Judge Lee Jeong-yeop) will hold a decision trial for former Minister Lee, former Presidential Office Chief of Staff Kim Dae-gi, former General Secretary Yoon Jae-soon, and former Management Secretary Kim Oh-jin.
They were indicted on charges of ordering the illegal diversion and execution of 2.09 billion won from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's budget, which was unrelated to the official residence, to pay construction costs to 21 Gram, an unqualified company, during the construction of the relocation of the presidential residence in 2022 (abuse of power, interference with the exercise of rights, etc.).
This case is also the 'first indictment case' by the 2nd comprehensive special prosecutor team, Kwon Chang-young, who investigated the remaining suspicions of the three special prosecutors (insurrection, Kim Geon-hee, and Marines).
The first trial of the People's Power Party, which is accused of interfering with the execution of an arrest warrant for former President Yoon Seok-yeol by the High-ranking Public Officials Crime Investigation Agency (Corruption Investigation Office) after martial law on December 3, will also begin.
On the 13th, Seoul Central District Court Criminal Agreement Division 35 (Chief Judge Baek Dae-hyun) will hold the first trial preparation date for the case of People Power Party lawmakers Na Kyung-won, Kim Ki-hyun, Yoon Sang-hyun, and Kwon Young-jin on charges of obstruction of special official duties.
The trial preparation date is a procedure to discuss proof plans prior to the full hearing, and there is no obligation for the defendant to attend.
Rep. Na and others are accused of creating a human wall with supporters of former President Yoon in front of the presidential residence on January 15, 2025, and obstructing the execution of the arrest warrant for former President Yoon by the Corruption Investigation Office and the police.
On the same day, the first appellate trial will be held for Unification Church President Hak Ja Han, who was indicted on charges of 'politico-political collusion' with the Yoon Seok-yeol government and sentenced to two years in prison in the first trial.
The cases of President Han, former Unification Church World Headquarters Director Yoon Young-ho, former President Chung's Chief of Staff Mo, and former Finance Director Lee will be heard by the 13th Criminal Division of the Seoul High Court (High Court Judge Kim Moo-shin, Lee Woo-hee, and Yoo Dong-gyun).
President Han was found guilty of giving money and valuables to First Lady Kim Kun-hee and former People's Power Party lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong for the purpose of soliciting current affairs of the Unification Church. He was sentenced to one year in prison in the first trial on charges of violating the Political Funds Act and one year in prison for violating the Anti-Graft Act and embezzlement in business.
