Court: Ex-Prosecutor Had Close Ties with First Lady, Allegedly Shared Investigation Details

A South Korean court has ruled that former prosecutor Kim Sang-min maintained a close enough relationship with then-First Lady Kim Keon-hee to warrant private phone calls and allegedly deliver artwork to her. This finding was central to the sentencing of Kim Sang-min, who received a seven-year prison term on charges including soliciting political favors and receiving artwork from artist Lee U-hwan.

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Kim Sang-min became personally acquainted with President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife Kim Keon-hee after being appointed as head of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, and subsequently became someone she spoke with privately.

The Seoul Central District Court's ruling, confirmed on May 29, stated that Kim Sang-min became personally acquainted with Kim Keon-hee after meeting her and President Yoon Suk-yeol in late July 2022. Their communication reportedly included private calls, and Kim Sang-min allegedly provided Kim Keon-hee with updates on investigations and trials concerning her and the president, responding to her inquiries.

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Kim Sang-min subsequently conveyed matters related to the progress of investigations and trials concerning Kim Keon-hee, such as the case of the arrest warrant for the Taekwondo Federation chairman (Ahn Hae-wook) and the prosecution's questions in the Deutsch Motors trial, and continued to communicate by answering Kim Keon-hee's inquiries.

In assessing whether artwork was delivered to Kim Keon-hee, the court cited Kim Sang-min's access to the presidential residence and his close relationship with the couple, including private phone calls. The court concluded that Kim Sang-min was in a position to deliver the artwork to Kim Keon-hee around February 2023 and hear her reaction directly.

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Considering that Kim Sang-min had dinner with Yoon Suk-yeol and Kim Keon-hee at the presidential residence, had access to the residence, and formed such a close relationship that he even had private phone calls with Kim Keon-hee, it appears he was in a position to deliver the artwork to Kim Keon-hee around February 2023 and hear her impressions directly.

Separately, the court found Kim Keon-hee involved in a bribery case where she allegedly received gifts worth approximately 100 million won, including a necklace, in exchange for political favors for the husband of Lee Bong-kwan, chairman of Seohae Construction. The court determined that Kim Keon-hee not only received the request but also actively participated in its realization, citing her encouraging phone call to the lawyer, Park Sung-geun, shortly before he was appointed chief of the Prime Minister's Secretariat.

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This can be seen as circumstantial evidence that Kim Keon-hee recognized the content of Lee Bong-kwan's request and was managing it with considerable interest, beyond a simple greeting.