'Ministry of Environment Blacklist' Former Minister Kim Eun-kyung Appeals on Day of Court Imprisonment

Former Minister of Environment Kim Eun-kyung Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Former Minister of Environment Kim Eunkyung, who was indicted in the 'Ministry of Environment Blacklist' case and sentenced to imprisonment in the first trial, filed an appeal on the day she was detained in court.

According to the legal community on the 9th, Kim's lawyer submitted an appeal to the Seoul Central District Court, which delivered the first trial verdict that day. As a result, Kim will face an appellate trial at the higher court, the Seoul High Court.

Earlier that day, the Criminal Division 25-1 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Kim Sunhee) sentenced Kim, who was tried on charges of abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights, to 2 years and 6 months in prison and detained her in court.

The court pointed out, "The possibility of criticism is very high as it caused deep distrust among the public regarding the recruitment process of executives at public institutions."

When Kim was detained in court, her lawyer said, "It was an unexpected verdict," adding, "There are many regrets regarding the facts and the application of the law. We will respond well in the appellate trial."

Kim was indicted on charges of forcing executives of public institutions under the Ministry of Environment, who were appointed during the Park Geunhye administration, to submit their resignations and intervening in the recruitment process so that candidates favored by the Blue House would be appointed. From December 2017 to January 2019, she pressured 15 executives of affiliated public institutions to submit resignations, and it was investigated that 13 of them actually resigned.

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