Prosecutors Summarily Indict Former Candidate Kim Seung-hee for Violation of Political Funds Act... Fine of 3 Million Won

Kim Seung-hee, nominee for Minister of Health and Welfare, is arriving at the hearing preparation office set up at the National Pension Service Chungjeongno building in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 30th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] The prosecution has filed a summary indictment with a fine of 3 million won against former candidate Kim Seung-hee, who was disqualified from the position of Minister of Health and Welfare over allegations of violating the Political Funds Act.

According to the legal community on the 22nd, the Criminal Division 6 of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Lee Joon-dong) confirmed that political funds, which should have been used for political activities, were used for personal purposes. Kim and one accounting officer were each summarily indicted with fines of 3 million won and 2 million won, respectively, on charges of violating the Political Funds Act.

A summary indictment is a procedure in which the court is requested to impose fines or other penalties based solely on written review instead of a formal trial. If neither the parties nor the court express the intention to hold a formal trial, the sentence becomes final.

Kim, who previously served as the head of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, was suspected of using his political funds during his time as a member of the 20th National Assembly to provide encouragement money to his aides and donations to fellow party members.

There were also allegations that he purchased a rental car after repainting it with political funds and used legislative policy development expenses for opinion polls.

The National Election Commission referred Kim to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office for investigation on charges of violating the Political Funds Act, and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office transferred the case to the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office.

Kim voluntarily resigned from the ministerial candidate position on the 4th of this month. At that time, he denied the allegations, stating, "There was absolutely no intentional misuse for personal purposes, and the issue arose from a clerical error in the accounting process."

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