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Prosecution demands 3 million won fine for DP chief's wife for alleged 'meals for support'

Published: 24 Oct. 2024, 16:29

MICHAEL LEE
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Kim Hye-kyung, wife of Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, arrives at the Suwon District Court on Thursday for the final hearing into the election law violation case against her. [YONHAP]

Prosecutors are seeking a fine of 3 million won ($2,170) for Kim Hye-kyung, wife of Democratic Party (DP) leader Lee Jae-myung, for using his official expenses card to buy meals for the wives of party officials in the lead-up to the DP’s presidential nomination contest.

Kim, whose husband served as Gyeonggi governor from 2018 to 2022, is accused of violating the Public Official Election Act by spending 104,000 won on a corporate credit card issued by the Gyeonggi provincial government to cover the cost of dining with six people, including three women married to mid-level current and former DP officials, as well as her driver and lawyer.

During the final hearing into the case against Kim at the Suwon District Court on Thursday, prosecutors accused Kim of “trying to buy the support of influential politicians’ spouses” by treating them to a meal and argued her crime was “serious” despite the relatively small amount of money she spent at the restaurant, which is located in the downtown Gwanghwamun area of central Seoul.

The meal in question took place on Aug. 2, 2021, after Lee had announced his candidacy in the party’s primaries to select its candidate in the March 2022 presidential election.

Prosecutors indicted Kim in February and accused her of directing Lee’s then-secretary, a Gyeonggi official identified only by the surname Bae, to use the governor’s corporate card to pay for the meal.

Kim has also been accused of misusing Lee’s official expenses card on other occasions.

According to Cho Myeong-hyun, a Gyeonggi official-turned-whistleblower, Bae also bought takeaway food with Lee’s card and delivered it to her residence in Seongnam, located just south of Seoul.

However, Kim has denied trying to solicit support for her husband’s presidential bid by buying meals.

A lawyer for Kim said that everyone present at the restaurant was expected to pay for their own share of the meal, but Bae “acted alone” in using Lee’s corporate card to cover the total cost.

In her statement at Thursday’s hearing, Kim said she “was not involved” in the payment process for the meal and denied asking Bae to use her husband’s card.

“As a politician's wife, I will be careful in the future to make sure those around me do not commit irregularities,” she added.

Sentencing in Kim's case is scheduled to take place on Nov. 14.

BY MICHAEL LEE [[email protected]]