Background of the Case
Former prosecutor Kim Sang-min is currently facing trial for allegedly purchasing a painting by artist Lee Ufan for 140 million Korean won and giving it to Kim Keon-hee. During the proceedings, Kim described Kim Sang-min as “someone I met a few times in a group created by my husband, former President Yoon Suk-yeol.” However, Kim Keon-hee has denied the charges, claiming she never received the painting or accepted any of his requests.
According to sources familiar with the case, Kim Sang-min and Kim Keon-hee were reported to have met two to three times in a group consisting of current and former prosecutors centered around former President Yoon. This group was formed by Yoon with prosecutors he worked with during investigations at the same prosecutors’ office. As Yoon moved between offices due to personnel changes, the group expanded. Kim Keon-hee reportedly came to know Kim Sang-min through attending the group with her husband. However, she described Kim Sang-min as merely one of the prosecutors her husband favored, thinking, “He must be one of the juniors my husband trusts.”
Kim Sang-min had participated in the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office’s investigation team targeting Cho Kuk when Yoon was Prosecutor General. He also served as a rookie prosecutor at the Daegu District Prosecutors’ Office when Yoon was head of its special investigation unit in 2009.
Perception and Relationship
Considering these points, Kim Keon-hee reportedly did not hold a negative impression of Kim Sang-min, as she believed her husband trusted him. However, she maintained that her memory of Kim Sang-min was vague and that they were not close enough for her to accept a painting or requests from him.
During the substantive review of a bench warrant in August, Kim Keon-hee was known to have argued, “If I had real influence over nominations, shouldn’t former Presidential Office personnel secretary Lee Won-mo or Kim Sang-min have received nominations?” Lee, who ran as a preliminary candidate for Seoul’s Gangnam-gu District, was pushed to the Yongin Gap District in Gyeonggi Province, while Kim Sang-min was cut off in the Changwon Uichang District.
Legal Allegations and Defense
The special counsel team indicted Kim Sang-min on the 2nd, alleging he gave the painting to Kim Keon-hee in early February 2023 and later requested nominations and a legal advisory position at the National Intelligence Service. The team stated it would continue investigating the circumstances of the painting’s exchange and any quid pro quo.
However, Kim Sang-min’s side reportedly claimed during the special counsel team’s investigation last month that he “directly reported the internal atmosphere of the prosecution to former President Yoon during his administration” but denied making improper requests. They argued that his appointment as an NIS legal advisor resulted from recommendations based on trust, not requests.
Key Points of the Case
- Kim Sang-min is accused of giving a painting to Kim Keon-hee, which she denies receiving.
- Kim Keon-hee claims she never accepted any requests from Kim Sang-min.
- The group involving Yoon and other prosecutors played a role in their meeting.
- Kim Sang-min was part of key investigations during Yoon’s tenure.
- Kim Keon-hee expressed that her relationship with Kim Sang-min was distant.
- The special counsel team continues to investigate the allegations of quid pro quo.
- Kim Sang-min’s defense claims his actions were based on trust and not improper requests.
