Kim Sung-tae, accused of 'Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance', faces first trial today

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The first trial of former Ssangbangwool Group Chairman Kim Seongtae, who is accused of remitting 8 million dollars to North Korea, will be held.

Former Chairman Kim Seong-tae of Ssangbangwool Group, who was caught in Thailand while on the run abroad, is returning to Korea through Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 on the 17th of last month. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

The Criminal Division 11 of Suwon District Court (Chief Judge Shin Jinwoo) will hold the first pretrial hearing for former Chairman Kim at 10 a.m. on the 23rd. Yang Seongil, Chairman of Ssangbangwool, who was indicted on charges including embezzlement and breach of trust, will also stand trial together.

The pretrial hearing is a procedure to hear opinions from both the prosecution and defense and to establish plans for evidence admission and proof, and the defendant is not required to attend.

Since there are many charges applied, including violation of the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act, bribery, violation of the Political Funds Act, embezzlement, and breach of trust, and dozens of witnesses are expected to be admitted during the trial process, multiple pretrial hearings may be held.

Former Chairman Kim appointed 17 lawyers as his defense team, including Yoo Jaeman, a former special prosecutor from the law firm Kwangjang (Judicial Research and Training Institute class 16).

Kim is accused of handing over 5 million dollars for the smart farm support project and 3 million dollars for the then Gyeonggi Province governor’s visit to North Korea to North Korean officials on behalf of Gyeonggi Province during the promotion of inter-Korean business in 2019.

He is also accused of providing illegal political funds amounting to 330 million won (including 260 million won in bribes) to former Gyeonggi Province Deputy Governor for Peace Ihwa Young from July 2018 to July 2022 through corporate cards and vehicle provision.

The prosecution stated in the indictment that former Chairman Kim received a request from former Deputy Governor Ihwa Young to the effect that "If the smart farm costs are not paid to North Korea, future inter-Korean projects in Gyeonggi Province will become difficult. Please support the smart farm costs to North Korea on behalf of Gyeonggi Province by Ssangbangwool Group."

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