Supreme Court issues additional arrest warrant
'Shocking that she nearly walked free due to trial delays'
'Three months without a ruling since referral to full bench'
'People want punishment that fits the crime'
The Democratic Party of Korea on Tuesday called the Supreme Court's issuance of an additional arrest warrant for Kim Keon Hee, wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, "a judgment that aligns with common sense." The party urged the court to go beyond extending her detention and deliver a swift and strict ruling.
Park Sung-jun, the Democratic Party's chief spokesperson, said in a written briefing that Kim had been sentenced to seven years in prison at trial and five years on appeal on charges of selling public office — receiving gifts including a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace, a painting by artist Lee Woo-hwan and a gold turtle.
Park said it was "a shock to the public in itself that Kim nearly walked free due to trial delays."
He also took aim at the pace of the Supreme Court proceedings. "The Supreme Court referred the case — involving the three major allegations against Kim Keon Hee — to its full bench just one day before sentencing was due, and has now gone three months without reaching a conclusion," Park said. "This warrant buys time. It does not right the scales of justice."
The Democratic Party also said the five-year sentence handed down on appeal was far too lenient given the gravity of the offenses. "Five years for selling public office to collect luxury goods is nowhere near enough," Park said.
He added that "what the people want is justice without delay and punishment that fits the crime," and urged the Supreme Court to deliver a swift and strict ruling.
With the additional arrest warrant issued, Kim will remain in detention. The Democratic Party again urged the Supreme Court to move beyond merely extending her detention and issue a final ruling on the case as soon as possible.
sjy@heraldcorp.com
