According to the legal community on the 21st, the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 34, led by Chief Judge Han Seong-jin, ordered a 3 million won fine against Kim for not appearing at a continued trial of Ahn Hae-wook, former head of the Korea Elementary School Taekwondo Association, who is charged with violating the Public Official Election Act and other offenses. Kim’s side had submitted a reason for her absence, but the court rejected it, saying it was not justified.
Under the Criminal Procedure Act, a court may impose a fine of up to 5 million won on a witness who, after receiving a summons, fails to appear without a valid reason.
The allegation surfaced ahead of the 2022 20th presidential election. Ahn said on the YouTube channel Open Sympathy TV that he had seen Kim working at an adult entertainment bar in the past and claimed she was known by the nickname “Julli.”
Prosecutors indicted Ahn, saying he publicized false information to cause then-candidate Yoon Suk Yeol to lose the election. Prosecutors also sent to trial Jeong Cheon-su, a former CEO of the channel that aired Ahn’s remarks in an interview format.
Despite Kim’s absence, the court plans to summon her again as a witness and continue the trial on May 20.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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