Court to Hold First Hearing on Kim Hye-kyung's Election Law Violation Case on the 26th

by Son Seonhee

Published 20 Feb.2024 11:38(KST)

Updated 20 Feb.2024 11:39(KST)

The first trial of Kim Hye-kyung, who was indicted for violating the Public Official Election Act during the 20th presidential election in 2022, will be held on the 26th. Kim is the spouse of Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea.

According to the legal community on the 20th, the Criminal Division 13 of Suwon District Court (Chief Judge Park Jeong-ho) scheduled Kim's first trial date for 2 p.m. on the 26th. Kim is accused of providing meals worth a total of 100,000 won to three party-related personnel, her driver, and lawyer at a restaurant in Seoul on August 2, 2021, when Lee was running in the party’s presidential primary.

Lee Jae-myung, spouse of the Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Hye-kyung / Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

Previously, the statute of limitations for Kim’s violation of the Public Official Election Act was suspended when her close aide and co-conspirator, former Grade 5 special position public official Bae, was indicted on September 8, 2022, one day before the statute of limitations expired. The prosecution indicted Kim without detention on the 14th, one year and five months after the statute of limitations was suspended. According to the Criminal Procedure Act, when one co-defendant is indicted, the statute of limitations for other co-defendants is suspended until the trial of the indicted co-defendant is finalized.

In Kim’s first trial, the prosecution is expected to explain the charges, and the defendant’s side will likely state whether they admit to the allegations. Discussions regarding procedures such as witness examination are also anticipated.

Bae, who received a suspended sentence in both the first and second trials for violating the Public Official Election Act, admitted to the charges related to donation acts under the Public Official Election Act.

Meanwhile, the prosecution is conducting an investigation into allegations of misuse of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government corporate card by Bae and Kim (suspected breach of trust in the course of duty).