Court Allows Live Broadcast of Kim Gunhee Appellate Sentencing for Alleged Deutsch Motors Stock Manipulation

by Lee Sungmin

Published 24 Apr.2026 18:03(KST)

Sentencing Hearing Scheduled for the 28th

The court has granted permission for the live broadcast of the appellate sentencing hearing for Kim Gunhee, who was sentenced to prison in the first trial for allegedly receiving money and valuables from the Unification Church.

According to the Seoul High Court on the 24th, Criminal Division 15-2 (Presiding Judges Shin Jong-oh, Seong Eon-joo, and Won Ik-seon) has decided to allow a live broadcast of the sentencing hearing in the appellate trial scheduled for the 28th. This trial concerns charges against Kim of violating the Capital Markets Act and the Political Funds Act. The court permits live broadcasting of sentencing only for cases of significant public interest and high societal attention. Kim's first trial sentencing was also broadcast live.

Mrs. Kim Geonhee appeared as a witness and testified at the continuation trial of the case involving former Minister of Justice Park Sungjae charged with engaging in important duties of rebellion, held on the 13th at the Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 33 (Presiding Judge Lee Jingwan) in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Seoul Central District Court Yonhap News Agency

With the court's decision, Kim's case is expected to become the first among the three special prosecutor cases (Rebellion, Kim Gunhee, Fallen Marine) to have its appellate sentencing broadcast live.

Kim was indicted in August last year on charges of violating the Capital Markets Act by allegedly participating in the manipulation of Deutsch Motors stock from October 2010 to December 2012 and obtaining unlawful gains amounting to 810 million won.

In the first trial, the court found Kim not guilty of the Deutsch Motors stock manipulation and polling bribery charges, but partially guilty of accepting one bag and a necklace from the Unification Church, sentencing her to one year and eight months in prison.

At the appellate trial's final hearing on the 8th, the special prosecutor sought the same sentence as in the first trial, requesting 15 years in prison for Kim.