Park Soo-hong's Brother's Embezzlement Appeal Trial Resumes Amidst Dispute

The appeal trial for Park Soo-hong's elder brother and his wife, who are accused of embezzling the broadcaster's earnings, is set to resume.

The Seoul High Court's Criminal Division 7 will hold a hearing today (17th) for the appeal case involving Park Jin-hong (no, the article uses 박씨 which is the brother's surname Park, so it should be Park Jin-hong or just the brother) and his wife, Lee, who are charged with embezzlement under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Settlement of Specific Financial Crimes.

The trial was postponed from last month and is now being held again. The siblings are accused of siphoning off approximately 6.2 billion KRW (around $5 million USD) from Park Soo-hong's earnings while managing two entertainment agencies between 2011 and 2021.

The prosecution had sought a seven-year prison sentence for Park and a three-year sentence for Lee in the first trial. However, the first court found them guilty only of embezzling 2 billion KRW of company funds, acquitting them on charges of misappropriating 1.6 billion KRW of Park Soo-hong's personal funds and acquitting Lee due to insufficient evidence of conspiracy.

Both sides appealed the ruling. Park Soo-hong testified as a witness in the appeal, expressing his anguish, stating, "It is difficult to accept that the personal embezzlement was deemed not guilty simply because it was a family company. I felt immense pain watching the assets I built over 30 years crumble."

During the sixth hearing in June, the court requested additional documentation of the parties' assets, noting a significant disparity in how Park Soo-hong and his brother's families accumulated their wealth.

Attention is focused on the key issues to be discussed in today's hearing and the direction the appellate court's decision will take.

Park Soo-hong debuted in 1991 and has been active in broadcasting for decades, earning acclaim as a versatile entertainer. He has also been dedicated to pro bono work and volunteer activities, setting an example through his good deeds. Recently, his daily life with his beloved cat, Dahong, has brought joy and touching moments to many.