Park Soo-hong's Brother and Sister-in-Law Sentencing Looms in Embezzlement Appeal

The sentencing for the embezzlement charges against Park Soo-hong's elder brother, Mr. Park, and his wife, Mrs. Lee, is scheduled for this week.

The Seoul High Court's Criminal Division 7 will hold the sentencing hearing for the appeal on March 19th at 2 PM.

The couple was indicted for allegedly embezzling billions of won from entertainment company funds and Park Soo-hong's personal assets over a decade, from 2011 to 2021, while managing the broadcaster's career.

In the first trial, Mr. Park was sentenced to two years in prison, but the charges related to embezzling personal assets were deemed not guilty. Mrs. Lee was acquitted in the first trial, with the court finding insufficient evidence of her active participation in company operations. Both the prosecution and the defense appealed the verdict.

During the final hearing, the prosecution sought seven years imprisonment for Mr. Park and three years for Mrs. Lee, citing the prolonged and extensive nature of the embezzlement, lack of restitution, and the defendants' failure to show remorse, even blaming the victim, Park Soo-hong.

Mr. Park pleaded for leniency in his final statement, expressing his distress and the hardship his family has faced. Mrs. Lee had previously received a fine in the first trial for spreading false information about Park Soo-hong via KakaoTalk messages. Attention is focused on whether the appellate court will uphold or alter the first trial's decisions.

Korean netizens are expressing strong opinions, with comments like "Hope the brother and sister-in-law receive just punishment" and "We support Park Soo-hong, hoping the truth comes out and he finds peace soon."