Kim Eun-kyung arrested the court “Planned resignation, no previous government”

Former Environment Minister Kim Eun-kyung, who was handed over to the trial on suspicion of a’blacklist by the Ministry of Environment’, was sentenced to jail in the first trial and was arrested in court. He took office as Minister of Environment with the inauguration of the Moon Jae-in government in July 2017, and became the first arrest case among Lee government ministers.

The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Agreement Department 25-1 (Director Sun-hee Kim, Jeong-yeop Lim, and Seongsu Kwon) sentenced former Minister Kim to two years and six months in prison on charges of obstructing the exercise of ex officio abuse rights. At the same time, he issued an arrest warrant on the grounds that “It is judged that there is fear of destruction of evidence, such as denying all (the charges) and stating the obvious facts differently.” Shin Mi-sook, former Blue House Balance Personnel Secretary, who was handed over to trial, was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison and 3 years probation.

From December 2017 to January 2018, former Minister Kim was charged with resignation from executives of public institutions under the Ministry of Environment who had been appointed by the previous regime, and intervened in hiring so that a person recommended by the Blue House was appointed to this position. At that time, 13 executives from public institutions, including the chairman of the Korea Environment Corporation, resigned. Former Minister Kim has also been accused of targeting executives who refused to submit resignations.

The court judged that these suspicions were actually made and undermined the fairness of hiring public institutions. It also accepted the prosecution’s indictment that the Blue House consulted with the Ministry of Environment to determine a nominee. “The 130 applicants, excluding the nominee, were completely unaware of this fact, and they had tangible and intangible damages and severely deprived them of the document screening and interviews.” “It caused deep distrust to the public about hiring executives in public institutions.” Pointed out. In addition, former Minister Kim criticized the Ministry of Environment’s staff as saying, “It made me feel severe mental stress and a feeling of atrophy in the performance of the job.”

Former Minister Kim’s claim that these crimes were practiced in previous governments was not accepted. The judges pointed out that, “It seems that some agency heads submitted resignations when the previous government changed power, but there is no practice of demanding resignation (request for resignation) as in this case.” did. At the same time, he said, “Even if there was an act of support (for the nominee) in the previous government, it clearly violates the law, and the abuse is so severe that it is an illegal practice that must be overcome.”

Rather, the judge rebuked former Minister Kim for showing an attitude of denying the charges and transferring responsibility to the people below. The judge said, “It is clear that public officials belonging to the Ministry of Environment cannot do this without the direction or approval of former Minister Kim.” This case was compared to the’cultural blacklist’ case involving former president Kim Ki-chun, etc. during the Park Geun-hye administration. Former secretary chief Kim was convicted of being charged with asking for a resignation from a government official of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The 25th Department of the Criminal Agreement, which is a judge, was sentenced to four years in prison and imprisoned in the court in the first trial for corruption in the entrance examination of the children of Dongyang University professor Chung Kyung-shim in December last year. It is also a ‘career’s high-ranking judge’ made up of all three judges who are the chief judges with about 20 years of experience.

Greetings from the Ministry of Environment “Invite citizens to distrust hiring public institutions”

However, among the executives who submitted their resignation, the former director of the National Institute of Ecology admitted that only 12 resignations except for him were guilty of abuse.

In addition, while former Minister Kim’s actions related to submitting his resignation and auditing targets were convicted, he was found not guilty of the’instruction’ he gave to public officials of the Ministry of Environment in the process. It was judged that the staff was supposed to assist former Minister Kim, who is the person in charge of personnel, in the execution of his duties, but not to do the dutyless work that constitutes the constituent of the crime of abuse of authority.

For some of the charges, including submitting resignation, former secretary Shin sentenced him to a lower sentence, saying that it is difficult to say that there was a’functional domination’ that could be seen as an accomplice with Kim.

This is the first time a former minister has been arrested in the current government. Previously, former Justice Minister Cho Kook was also requested for an arrest warrant in December 2019 in connection with the allegations of Mouma, the former Vice Mayor Yoo Jae-soo of the Busan city’s economy, but the court dismissed it.

According to the legal community on that day, Kim’s lawyer immediately filed an appeal. Accordingly, former Minister Kim will be judged on appeal by the Seoul High Court, a higher court. Earlier, at the sentencing hearing held that day, when former Minister Kim was arrested in court, the lawyer said that it was an “unexpected judgment” and said, “There are a lot of regrets about the facts and the application of the law. I will respond well in the appeal hearing.”

The ruling party also evaluated it as “a regrettable decision.” Shin Young-dae, a spokesman for the Democratic Party of Korea, said, “We are disappointed with the prosecution’s selective prosecution and the court ruling. As the appeal procedure remains in the future, I will watch the final results.”

The Blue House cherished the words. Blue House spokesman Kang Min-seok said in a text message sent to reporters that day, “in principle, we will not comment on the case under trial,” and “after confirming the details of the judgment, we will disclose the position if necessary.”

On the other hand, Kim Eun-hye, a spokesman for the People’s Power, commented and evaluated that “the Moon Jae-in government’s genes did not have civilian inspections, so the inner South Korean genes disguised as’checklists’ were once again confirmed.” Earlier in 2019, a spokesman for the Blue House, Kim Eui-gyeom, remarked on the suspicion of a’blacklist by the Ministry of Environment’, saying, “Various documents prepared for the management and supervision of affiliated public institutions are’checklists'” Spokesman Kim said, targeting former Justice Minister Cho Kook, who was then chief civilian at the Blue House at the time, “Cho has to answer and take responsibility now.” Former Minister Cho attended the National Assembly Steering Committee in 2018, when he was chief civil servant, and affirmed that “the Moon Jae-in government’s chief civil administration office does not inspect or blacklist civilians.” Spokesman Kim pointed out that “we will reap what we sow,” aiming at Cho’s remarks.

The People’s Party criticized the Blue House for listening to the idiom,’Hwamu Sigil Hong (花無十日紅)’, which says that good times do not last long. In an oral commentary, Ahn Hye-jin, a spokesman for the People’s Party, pointed out that “when the election season comes, when we try to put several people in one place with a thin trick, this kind of war arose.” “This is why Korean politics is fingered by the people.” He added, “It is unfortunate that the sentencing is too light, but we should take this opportunity to prevent this from happening again.”

Reporter Dr. Ra and Sung Ji Won [email protected]