Prosecutors seek a fine of 3 million won for Kim Hye-kyung for "violating the Public Official Election Act."

Prosecutors seek a fine of 3 million won for Kim Hye-kyung for "violating the Election Act"
Allegations of payment worth 100,000 won with a corporate credit card in Gyeonggi-do Province before the primary election
Prosecutors seek fines of 3 million won in July's final trial

[Anchor]
Prosecutors have sought a fine of 3 million won for Kim Hye-kyung, the spouse of Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who is accused of violating the Public Official Election Act by using the Gyeonggi Provincial Government's corporate card.

The prosecution argued that Kim tried to buy the spouses of influential politicians with money, and that the crime was serious regardless of the amount.

I'll connect with the reporter and find out.

Reporter Chung Hyun-woo, please explain the prosecution's request first.

[Reporter]
Yes.

In Kim Hye-kyung's first trial decision held at the Suwon District Court this morning, the prosecution asked the court to fine her 3 million won.

Kim is accused of paying 104,000 won for meals for six people, including the spouse of former and current lawmakers of the Democratic Party, with the Gyeonggi Provincial Government's corporate card in 2021, ahead of the presidential election.

The prosecution demanded a fine of 3 million won and said that the crime was serious regardless of the amount of money because it tried to buy the spouses of influential politicians.

He also stressed that the secretary, explicitly or implicitly, could not have paid for the food without Kim's prior instructions or control.

He criticized that he committed the crime with a public official who is supposed to observe political neutrality, and that he is also trying to pass on the responsibility to his subordinates and get out of it.

Earlier in July, the prosecution demanded a fine of 3 million won, but the court resumed its argument on the grounds that additional questioning was needed.

[Anchor]
Yes. Kim Hye-kyung protested the old sentence, right?

[Reporter]
Yes, Kim Hye-kyung refuted in her closing argument that she was not involved in the crime and had never made a payment to her secretary.

He then asked for leniency, saying, "I hope the court will make a good judgment, and I will live more carefully without making small cases while living as a politician's wife."

The lawyer also protested the prosecution's request, saying there was a basic perception that Kim should not be allowed to pay for the meal instead.

After Kim's argument, the hearing, which lasted nearly eight months, is over, and the first trial will be held on the 14th of next month.

I'm Jeong Hyeonwoo of YTN from the Ministry of Social Affairs.