[Breaking] Supreme Court Overturns and Remands 2nd Trial, Fully Acquitting Former Chosun Ilbo Editor-in-Chief Song Hee-young

Guilty Verdict on Charges Related to Nam Sang-tae, Former President of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering

Song Hee-young, former chief editor of Chosun Ilbo, and Park Soo-hwan, former CEO of News Communication (CG)

The Supreme Court overturned the full acquittal in the second trial of Song Hee-young, former chief editor of Chosun Ilbo, who was prosecuted on charges of receiving money and entertainment from Park Soo-hwan, former CEO of News Communication, in exchange for writing columns and editorials favorable to Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering.

On the 12th, the Supreme Court's First Division (Presiding Justice Kim Seon-soo) overturned the original verdict that acquitted Song, who was indicted on charges of embezzlement, and Park, who was indicted on charges of aiding embezzlement, and remanded the case to the Seoul High Court.

The Supreme Court ruled that among the various charges against Song, the allegation that he published columns and editorials favorable to former Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering President Nam Sang-tae and, in return, took a foreign business trip from September 1 to September 9, 2011, costing approximately 39 million won, was valid.

The court stated, "Considering the defendant's position, the relationship between former President Nam and the defendant, the extent of the property benefits conferred, and the situation of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering at the time, it should be regarded that former President Nam implicitly requested the defendant to form a favorable public opinion, and the defendant, knowing this was in return for such a request, received travel expenses worth about 39.73 million won for a European trip."

Furthermore, the court judged, "Moreover, the defendant's acceptance of a large economic benefit from former President Nam while receiving a request to form a favorable public opinion about Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering constitutes an 'improper solicitation.'"

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