Binggrae’s president, Kim Dong-hwan, who created a disturbance in an apartment while intoxicated and assaulted police officers during their response, has been sentenced to a fine in the first trial. On the 7th, Judge Seong Jun-kyu of the Seoul Western District Court’s Criminal Division 10 sentenced President Kim to a fine of 5 million won for obstructing official duties. The prosecution had recommended a sentence of six months in prison with a one-year suspension.
President Kim was accused of causing a disturbance at an apartment in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on June 17 and assaulting the responding police officers after residents reported the incident to the police. It is reported that at the time, Kim shouted, “Why should I be taken away?” The court explained the sentencing, stating, “The crime is not light as he assaulted the responding officers while intoxicated,” but also considered that “the defendant is reflecting on his actions and seeking forgiveness, and the assaulted officers are all appealing for leniency.”
President Kim is the eldest son of Binggrae Chairman Kim Ho-yeon. He joined the company in 2014 and was promoted to president in March of this year. After the trial, he left the courtroom with a brief apology to reporters, saying only “I’m sorry” in relation to the verdict and the incident.