'Rhyme Scandal Financial Supervisory Service Document Leak' Former Blue House Administrator Partially Denies Charges

"Employment of Younger Sibling as Outside Director Is Legitimate... Not a Disclosure of Information Obtained Through Duties"
Defendant: "Could Not Refuse Favor from Friend Whose Business Is Doing Well... I Am Reflecting"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] A former Blue House administrative officer, who was indicted on charges of receiving money from Kim Bong-hyun, chairman of Star Mobility known as the 'jeonju' (錢主) of Lime Asset Management, and leaking inspection information related to Lime from the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), partially denied the charges at the first trial.

At the hearing held on the 24th at the Seoul Southern District Court Criminal Division 12 (Presiding Judge Oh Sang-yong), the prosecution explained the charges, stating, "The defendant received about 37 million KRW from Chairman Kim using a corporate card and appointed his younger brother as an outside director of Star Mobility, enabling him to gain 19 million KRW in salary. In return, the defendant showed internal FSS documents related to the Lime inspection to Chairman Kim."

In response, the defense attorney for former administrative officer Kim mostly admitted to the charges but denied allegations of bribery involving a third party due to his brother's employment and violations of the Financial Services Commission Establishment Act for leaking information obtained through official duties.

The defense argued, "The younger brother is qualified to be an outside director based on his career, and appointing him as an outside director was to have him properly explain Chairman Kim's position to the company. Since he performed legitimate work and received a salary, the element of quid pro quo for bribery is weak."

Additionally, the defense stated, "The materials shown to Chairman Kim by the defendant were not information officially obtained while working at the Blue House but were personally requested from a colleague at the FSS with whom he had a friendly relationship. Therefore, it is difficult to consider it information obtained through official duties."

Furthermore, regarding the defendant receiving a corporate card from Chairman Kim and paying for golf course and entertainment bar expenses, the defense said, "He admits to the charges and is remorseful," but appealed for leniency, stating, "He could not refuse the kindness of a high school friend whose business was doing well."

The defense attorney for former administrative officer Kim applied to call Kim's younger brother as a witness in the next trial. The next trial is scheduled for the 20th of next month.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.