'Legislative Lobby' Kim Yong-hee, Former President of the Korea Childcare Association, Sentenced to Prison in First Trial

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] Kim Yong-hee, former president of the Korea Association of Childcare Centers (Han-eo-chong), who was prosecuted for giving illegal donations to lawmakers and their aides for legislative lobbying, was sentenced to prison in the first trial.

The Criminal Division 11 of the Seoul Western District Court (Chief Judge Moon Byung-chan) held the sentencing hearing for former President Kim on the 3rd and sentenced him to six months in prison with a two-year probation for violating the Political Funds Act, and six months in prison for embezzlement in the course of duty. However, the court did not order detention in court, citing no risk of evidence destruction or flight.

Former President Kim was charged with collecting about 40 million won from directors in 2013 and 2017?2018, when he served as the chairman of the public and private sector committee under Han-eo-chong and as president of Han-eo-chong, to pass favorable bills and block unfavorable bills for the organization, and donating part of it to members of the National Assembly’s Health and Welfare Committee (violation of the Political Funds Act).

He was also charged with embezzling about 20 million won of Han-eo-chong funds for litigation costs and other purposes unrelated to work or for personal use (embezzlement in the course of duty).

The police, who investigated the case at the time, also conducted an internal investigation into allegations of violation of the Political Funds Act against five lawmakers and aides who were known to have received the money, but the case was closed without indictment due to lack of evidence, according to the prosecution’s judgment.

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