Supreme Court Confirms 1 Year 4 Months Prison Sentence for Park Jung-won, 4th Generation of Doosan Family, in 400 Million Won Fraud Case

On November 4, 2009, at the funeral hall of Seoul National University Hospital where the late Chairman Park Yong-oh's wake was held, Park Jung-won, the second son and then Vice President of Seongji Construction, was released on bail suspension and was seen choking up. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] The Supreme Court has confirmed a prison sentence for Park Jung-won, former Vice President of Sungji Construction and a 4th-generation member of the Doosan family, who was on trial for fraud involving hundreds of millions of won.

According to the legal community on the 10th, the Supreme Court's 2nd Division (Presiding Justice Noh Jeong-hee) recently dismissed Park's appeal in his final trial on charges of fraud and forgery of private documents, upholding the original sentence of 1 year and 4 months in prison.

The court stated, "The defendant's claim that the lower court's sentencing involved a legal error ultimately corresponds to an argument of inappropriate sentencing," adding, "Appeals on the grounds of inappropriate sentencing are only permitted in cases where the death penalty, life imprisonment, or imprisonment or detention of 10 years or more is imposed. Since a lighter sentence was given in this case, the claim that the sentence is excessively heavy does not constitute a valid reason for appeal."

Park, the second son of the late Park Yong-oh, former chairman of Doosan Group, was indicted three times between 2017 and 2018 on charges of borrowing a total of over 420 million won from four victims between 2011 and 2016 and failing to repay the money.

Investigations revealed that during the borrowing process, he deceived the victims by claiming he was engaged in mergers and acquisitions business and promising high interest payments or that he would use his connections to enable them to supply large supermarkets.

When the first trial's sentencing date was set, Park suddenly disappeared and did not appear in court, causing the sentencing to be postponed three times.

Meanwhile, an additional case involving fraud of around 70 million won and forgery of private documents was consolidated. When victims who lent money under the pretense of company acquisition requested to see the acquisition contract, Park forged the contract and showed it to them, leading to additional charges of forgery of private documents.

The first trial court ultimately sentenced Park to three years in prison in absentia.

However, the appellate court reduced the sentence to 1 year and 4 months, considering that "the defendant admitted to the crimes and showed remorse, and that during the appeal trial, he reached settlements with the victims who no longer wished for his punishment."

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