Kim Eunkyung (C), former Environment minister, arrives at Seoul Central District Court, February 9, 2021 for a sentencing hearing on alleged abuse of power. The court sentenced Kim Eun-kyung to two years and six monthly for abusing the power she held while in office. It ordered chiefs from ministry-affiliated groups to resign if it was not supportive of the incumbent administration. (Yonhap)
Thursday’s ruling by the Supreme Court confirmed a two year sentence for an ex-environment minister of the Moon Jaein administration. She was accused of abusing her ministerial power in order to force former officials to resign from their public posts.
Kim Eun-kyung was charged with forcing 13 executives from environment ministry-affiliated public organizations to resign between 2017-2018.
Thursday’s Supreme Court decision that Kim was guilty of some charges and sentenced her two years in prison confirmed the ruling of the appellate court.
Moon’s critics have been critical of the case, which was disclosed by a disqualified former Cheong Wa Dae official late 2018. It is also known as “the environment ministry Blacklist”. The top court sentenced Kim, the first minister of the Moon government, to a term in prison. (Yonhap)