Former Vice Minister of Land Kim O-jin has been sentenced to five years in prison for allegedly awarding contracts to unqualified companies and making improper payments during the relocation of the presidential residence.
On October 26, the special investigation team led by Kim Geon-hee requested a five-year sentence for Kim during a hearing at the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Judge Lee Young-seon. The team also sought five years for former presidential aide Hwang Seung-ho and three years for Kim Tae-young, CEO of the construction firm 21Gram.
The special investigation team argued that the scheme began when Kim Geon-hee expressed dissatisfaction with the existing contractor's interior work and opted to switch to 21Gram, a company with which she had personal ties. 21Gram had previously sponsored exhibitions for Kobana Contents, a company operated by Kim Geon-hee, and was responsible for office design and construction.
The prosecution claimed this was a case of the presidential spouse abusing public authority for personal preferences, asserting that the actions were organized at the level of the presidential transition committee and the presidential office.
The prosecution emphasized that Kim O-jin was responsible for the practical aspects of the residence relocation from the presidential office to the new location. They alleged that he made improper demands to ensure that the company designated by Kim Geon-hee could complete the construction, leading to multiple illegal acts, including name lending and the signing of false contracts.
Kim O-jin and Hwang Seung-ho were indicted last December for allowing 21Gram, which lacked a general construction license, to undertake the work during the relocation process.
They are accused of facilitating negotiations for lending the construction business name to 21Gram and violating internal procedures to contract with the company. The three individuals, including Kim Tae-young, are also charged with embezzling approximately 1.6 billion won. The prosecution believes they deceived officials from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Public Procurement Service by signing additional contracts under the names of other construction companies while concealing the purpose of covering excess construction costs for 21Gram.
Kim O-jin and Hwang Seung-ho are also accused of preparing false documents to make it appear as though they had conducted inspections despite failing to fulfill their supervisory and completion inspection duties. Hwang and Kim Tae-young face additional charges for refusing to provide requested documents during an audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection or for making false statements.
Kim O-jin's defense argued that procedural issues and intent to commit a crime should be distinguished. The attorney acknowledged that the construction began before the contract was finalized and that the contract was divided, but contended that the actions were merely part of managing an ongoing project and not indicative of an initial plan for illegality.
Separately, Kim O-jin is facing another trial for allegedly instructing the illegal diversion of government funds to pay for the construction costs. The second comprehensive special investigation team, led by Kwon Chang-young, sought a sentence of three years and six months for him on October 16.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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