Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo, who was handed over to trial for his involvement in the 'Drooking Comment Manipulation' case, was sentenced to two years in prison.



The second part of the Supreme Court (Chief Justice Lee Dong-won) confirmed the lower court sentenced to two years in prison today (21st) by Governor Kim, who was accused of manipulating comments.



He was acquitted on the charge of violating the Public Official Election Act.



The sentence of the appellate court came about eight months after Governor Kim was sentenced to two years in prison at the appeals court last November.



Governor Kim's side claimed that Governor Kim was unaware of the existence of king crab in the appeals trial on the same day, but the Supreme Court did not admit this.



The court ruled, "There is no error in the trial court's judgment, such as escaping the limits of libertarianism, misunderstanding the law, contradicting reasons, or omission of judgment regarding the establishment of a co-conspiracy and common criminal."



Regarding the charge of violating the Public Official Election Act, the special prosecutor also did not accept the claim of the special prosecutor that Governor Kim's proposal for the post of consul general in Sendai, Japan, was in return for his promise to comment on local elections.



The court pointed out that the lower court's judgment that the provision of profits related to the election campaign can be punished only when candidates for local elections is specified was wrong.



However, the lower court held that there was no error in the judgment of the lower court, which found that there was insufficient evidence to conclude that the proposal for the Sendai Consul General is related to local elections.



Governor Kim is expected to be imprisoned at Changwon Prison, known as the prison under the jurisdiction of his residence, as his sentence is confirmed.



Governor Kim was sentenced to two years in prison in the first trial and arrested in court, but he was released on bail in April 2019, 77 days later.



However, it is unlikely that Governor Kim will be imprisoned on the same day as the Supreme Prosecutor must receive a judgment from the Supreme Court, confirm the address of Governor Kim, and then go through the process of entrusting the prosecution with the jurisdiction to execute the sentence.



Governor Kim will not be able to run for election for five years after he was stripped of his office as governor of Gyeongnam and his sentence of two years ended.



Elected public officials will be voided if they are sentenced to a fine of 1 million won or more for violating the Public Official Election Act, or imprisonment without prison labor or more for general criminal cases.



Governor Kim is accused of manipulating public opinion with 'King Crab', an automation program (macro), in collusion with Dong-won Kim and his party, the so-called 'Drooking', in order to win the election of President Moon Jae-in, who has been the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party since November 2016 (disabled tasks such as computers). interruption).



He and Kim decided to continue manipulating comments until the 2017 local election and have also been tried on charges of proposing the post of consul general in Sendai, Japan to Mr. Kim (violation of the Public Official Election Act).



The first trial pleaded guilty to all charges against Governor Kim, sentenced him to two years in prison for manipulating comments, and arrested Governor Kim in court.



He was sentenced to 10 months in prison and 2 years of probation for violating the Public Official Election Act.



However, the second trial found only Governor Kim guilty of manipulating comments and acquitted him of violating the Public Official Election Act.



The court sentenced Governor Kim to two years in prison, but did not arrest him, who was released on bail.



(Photo = Yonhap News)