Kim Hye-kyung, who is suspected of violating the election law, will be sentenced to the first trial shortly.Prosecutors demand 3 million won

[Anchor]
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 providing meals to officials of the Democratic Party of Korea with a corporate card in Gyeonggi Province during the last presidential election, will be announced shortly.

The prosecution demanded a fine of 3 million won, saying Kim conspired to commit the crime with his secretary, but Kim denies the charges, saying there is no basis.

There is a reporter on the scene. Reporter Shin Gwihye!

[Reporter]
Yes, it's in the Suwon District Court.

[Anchor]
Did the trial begin?

[Journalist]
Yes, that's right.

The Suwon District Court will soon hold a first trial hearing for Kim Hye-kyung, who was handed over to trial for violating the Public Official Election Act at 2 p.m.

Kim is accused of providing meals worth 104,000 won to six people, including the spouses of former and current Democratic lawmakers, in August 2021, after her husband, Democratic Party Chairman Lee Jae-myung, announced his candidacy for the presidential election.

Bae, the secretary of the execution, paid for the meal with the Gyeonggi-do Provincial Government's corporate card.

In a final hearing held last month, the prosecution asked the court to sentence Kim to a fine of 3 million won, saying he was trying to buy the spouses of influential politicians.

[Anchor]
What is the issue of this trial?

[Reporter]
It seems that the guilt or innocence will depend on how the court judges whether Kim knew about the corporate card payment.

The prosecution believes that Mr. Kim may have been involved in the process, saying that Mr. Bae, his secretary, could not have paid for the meal using a corporate card on his own.

The prosecution pointed out that Kim's allegations in the final trial were "a crime committed with a public official who should maintain political neutrality."

However, Kim's side denies the allegation, claiming it is a "absurd indictment" without evidence.

Even if you look at the statements of those involved, there is no basis for considering that Kim and his secretary conspired to commit the crime.

Kim also told the court that he had never instructed his secretary to pay with a corporate credit card.

Secretary Bae, who appeared as a witness during the trial, also testified that he was the only one who conducted it.

Bae, who was previously handed over to trial on the same charges as Kim, was found guilty of the charges, and the suspended prison sentence was confirmed.

Attention is focusing on what judgment the court will make on whether they are accomplices or not.

So far, I'm YTN Shin Gwihye from Suwon District Court.

Reporter for shooting
: Kim Ja-young