Jeonghyuk Lim, Former High-Ranking Prosecutor, Acquitted in Baekhyeon-dong Investigation Lobbying Case on Appeal: "Testimony Lacked Credibility"

First Trial: Suspended Prison Sentence
Appeals Court: "Doubts About Credibility of Lee Donggyu's Testimony"

Jeonghyuk Lim, a former high-ranking prosecutor and current attorney, who was accused of accepting money in exchange for lobbying to halt the investigation into the 'Baekhyeon-dong development corruption' case, was acquitted in the appellate court. Although he was given a suspended prison sentence in the first trial, the verdict was overturned to not guilty on appeal.

Jeonghyuk Lim Lawyer

On the 17th, the Criminal Division 6-3 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judges Lee Yesle, Jeong Jaeo, and Choi Eunjeong) overturned the lower court's suspended prison sentence for Lim, who had been indicted for violating the Attorney-at-Law Act, and found him not guilty.

Unlike the first trial, the appellate court did not recognize the credibility of the testimony given by Lee Donggyu, former chairman of KH Development. The court stated, "There is a motive or possibility for Lee Donggyu to provide false testimony," and added, "There are indications that he attempted to make false statements in line with the direction of the investigation in order to highlight investigative results and seek favorable consideration in his own case." Lee had previously testified that, as the agent for Baul Jeong, chairman of Asia Developer and a private developer in Baekhyeon-dong, he had requested Lim's lobbying services.

The prosecution argued, "The 1 billion won retainer fee is a large sum, and the fact that 100 million won was actually received indicates that this was not compensation for legitimate legal services, but rather a bribe for illicit lobbying to the Prosecutor General." However, the court noted, "It has been confirmed that Chairman Jeong paid more than 2.8 billion won in retainers to over ten attorneys," and added, "Considering that the defendant is an attorney with a distinguished career as a former high-ranking prosecutor, and that the Baul Jeong case was attracting significant public attention at the time, it is difficult to conclude that the agreed-upon 900 million won success fee and the 100 million won retainer received as an advance payment were excessively high to the extent that they cannot be seen as legitimate compensation for legal services."

Lim was indicted in June 2023 on charges of receiving 100 million won in his personal account from Chairman Jeong under the pretext of lobbying and entertaining public officials in connection with the Baekhyeon-dong development corruption investigation. The prosecution alleged that Lim demanded 1 billion won in exchange for lobbying senior prosecutors to quash the investigation, and that he collected 100 million won as an advance payment.

In August last year, the first trial sentenced Lim to two years in prison, suspended for three years, and ordered the forfeiture of 100 million won.

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