Received One-Month Suspension for Accepting Drinks from Kim Bong-hyun in 2019
Criminal Case Sent Back by Supreme Court Last October
Kim Bong-hyun, former Star Mobility Chairman, a key figure in the Lime Asset Management scandal / News1
Na Yi-yeop, a prosecutor who received a one-month suspension for accepting drinks from Kim Bong-hyun, a key figure in the “Lime Fund Scandal” and former Star Mobility Chairman, announced his intention to resign on the 23rd.
In his resignation message posted on the prosecutor’s internal network (E-Pros) that day, Na stated, “I decided to resign when I realized it was difficult to properly perform my duties as a prosecutor. It took longer than expected to execute my resignation plan, which is why I’m only submitting my resignation now.”
He continued, “Though I accomplished many rewarding tasks as a prosecutor, looking back, I have more regrets than achievements. Despite this, most of my time working was rewarding, enjoyable, and happy. I express my gratitude to all those with whom I’ve worked.”
Prosecutor Na was disciplined on the 9th with a one-month suspension and a disciplinary fine of about 3.49 million won. The reason for the discipline was receiving entertainment worth approximately 1.16 million won from former Chairman Kim at a hostess bar in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, from 9:30 PM on July 18, 2019, to 1:00 AM the next day. This conduct was deemed damaging to the dignity of a prosecutor. Disciplinary measures for prosecutors include dismissal, suspension, demotion, reprimand, with suspension and above classified as severe penalties. Other prosecutors present who left earlier than Na, Prosecutors Yoo Hyo-jae from the Incheon District Prosecutor’s Office and Lim Hong-seok from the Seoul Central Prosecutor’s Office, received reprimands and fines of about 660,000 won.
Former Chairman Kim, over a year later, in October 2020, revealed in a “prison letter” that he had hosted Na and others for drinks. He claimed, “Attorney Lee said they would be part of the Lime investigation team, and one person indeed joined the team.”
The prosecution subsequently indicted Na and others involved, including Kim, for exchanging entertainment worth 1.14 million won, violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, based on the entire drink bill of 5.36 million won paid by Kim. Prosecutors Yoo and Lim were not indicted as their amounts were calculated at 960,000 won, not exceeding the criminal penalty threshold of “exceeding 1 million won at a time” under the law.
The first and second trials found that the entertainment amount was less than 1 million won, ruling Na not guilty. However, the Supreme Court overturned the decision last October, stating “the second trial misunderstood the legal principles regarding the calculation of the entertainment amount,” sending it back with a guilty verdict.