Prosecutors Decide Not to Indict Kim Woong and Kim Gun-hee in 'Alleged Solicitation of Prosecution' Case... Election Law Violation Charges Referred to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials

Kim Woong, member of the People Power Party. / Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist] The prosecution has concluded its investigation by deciding not to indict the cases involving Representative Kim Woong and others, which were transferred from the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division (Gongsoocheo) related to the 'report solicitation' allegations.

The Public Investigation Division 1 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Lee Hee-dong) announced on the 29th that it had decided not to indict Representative Kim and Kim Kun-hee, related to the violation of the Public Official Election Act, which Gongsoocheo transferred to the prosecution concerning the 'report solicitation' allegations.

Representative Kim is accused of receiving a complaint against Representative Choi Kang-wook of the Democratic Party of Korea (then a candidate for the Open Democratic Party in the 21st general election) and other pro-government figures from Prosecutor Son Joon-sung in April 2020 and delivering it to the United Future Party (now the People Power Party).

In May, Gongsoocheo concluded its investigation into the 'report solicitation' allegations, indicting Prosecutor Son Joon-sung (then Human Rights Protection Officer at Daegu High Prosecutors' Office) on four charges: violation of the Public Official Election Act, breach of official secrets, violation of the Personal Information Protection Act, and violation of the Criminal Procedure Electronicization Act, while dismissing the abuse of authority charge.

Additionally, the abuse of authority and breach of official secrets charges against Representative Kim, who was a civilian at the time, were dismissed, and the remaining charges, including the Public Official Election Act violation allegedly committed in collusion with Prosecutor Son, which were not subject to Gongsoocheo's prosecution or investigation, were transferred to the prosecution.

Regarding the three prosecutors who were also booked along with President Yoon Seok-youl, Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon, Representative Jeong Jeom-sik of the People Power Party, and Prosecutor Son, the prosecution decided not to indict them. Meanwhile, the abuse of authority charge against Kim Kun-hee was dismissed, and the remaining charges were transferred to the prosecution.

In response to the prosecution's decision not to indict, a Gongsoocheo official stated, "It does not seem appropriate to comment on the prosecution's decision without knowing the exact reasons for non-indictment," adding, "Gongsoocheo will do its utmost to maintain the prosecution in the ongoing related trials."

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