25.06.26.Today News : Yangyang County Governor Kim Jin-ha sentenced to two years in prison

Yangyang County Governor Kim Jin-ha sentenced to two years in prison

• Received cash and a massage chair from a petitioner, sexual assault charge acquitted; both sides to appeal

Kim Jin-ha, the mayor of Yangyang County in Gangwon Province, has been sentenced to two years in prison and fined 10 million KRW for receiving cash and a high-end massage chair from a petitioner. While the court dismissed the sexual assault charge, it found Kim guilty of bribery and violating anti-graft laws.

Yangyang County Governor Kim Jin-ha was sentenced to two years in prison in the first trial.

On June 26, the Sokcho Branch of the Chuncheon District Court sentenced Kim Jin-ha to two years in prison, a 10 million KRW fine, and ordered the forfeiture of a massage chair and an additional 5 million KRW in restitution.

Kim was indicted for receiving a total of 20 million KRW in bribes, including cash and goods, from a female petitioner referred to as Ms. A. The court found sufficient evidence for a single instance in December 2023, when Ms. A was seen on CCTV discreetly placing a cash envelope into Kim’s coat pocket. Kim's claim that the envelope contained documents was not accepted.

Although the court acquitted Kim on two other alleged bribery occasions from 2018 and 2022 due to insufficient evidence, it upheld the charge of violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act concerning the massage chair received by his spouse. The court noted that the chair was likely intended for Kim himself, who held influence over the petitioner’s civil request.

The sexual assault charge was dismissed, with the court stating that the multiple consensual encounters between Kim and Ms. A did not support her claims of coercion. It also found her testimony inconsistent with CCTV footage and other behavioral evidence.

Ms. A was also convicted for her role in the case. She was found guilty of bribery, violating anti-graft laws, and conspiring with Councilor Park Bong-gyun to threaten Kim with sexually explicit footage. She received a 1.5-year prison sentence and 40 hours of mandated sex offender education.

Councilor Park was given a one-year prison term with a three-year suspended sentence and the same educational mandate. Both Park and Kim announced their intention to appeal, and the prosecution is also reviewing the verdict for a possible appeal.

Under South Korean election law, elected officials automatically lose their positions upon conviction of a sentence of imprisonment or higher. However, since Kim’s term is set to end in less than a year, no by-election is required.

One-line summary : Kim Jin-ha, the mayor of Yangyang County, was sentenced to two years in prison for bribery and anti-graft violations and plans to appeal.