Former Justice Ministry Official Kim Hak-ki Awarded Over 100 Million Won in Compensation

Kim Hak-ki (김학의), the former Vice Minister of Justice, has been awarded over 100 million won in criminal compensation after being acquitted of charges related to sexual bribery and solicitation. The Seoul High Court's Criminal Division 4-2, presided over by Judge Kwon Hyuk-jung, confirmed on May 8 that Kim will receive 125.1 million won for his detention and an additional 8.995 million won for related expenses.

Criminal compensation is a system that reimburses defendants for damages incurred during wrongful detention when they are ultimately found not guilty.

Kim was embroiled in controversy shortly after his appointment as Vice Minister in March 2013, facing allegations of receiving sexual services from a construction businessman, Yoon. He underwent two investigations by the prosecution in 2013 and 2014 but was cleared of charges. However, in 2019, then-President Moon Jae-in urged a thorough investigation, leading to renewed scrutiny and charges of receiving 43 million won in cash and phone bills from businessman Choi.

The judicial outcomes varied over time. Initially, Kim was acquitted, but the second trial found him guilty, sentencing him to 2 years and 6 months in prison along with a fine of 5 million won. The Supreme Court later questioned the credibility of Choi's testimony, sending the case back for retrial. In the retrial, while acknowledging the evidentiary value of Choi's statements, the court concluded that they lacked sufficient credibility to eliminate reasonable doubt, resulting in Kim's acquittal. The Supreme Court finalized the not guilty verdict in August 2022, concluding a lengthy legal battle spanning five trials.

Throughout this ordeal, Kim was detained and released after the first trial's acquittal, then re-arrested following the second trial's conviction, ultimately spending approximately 14 months in custody. The core allegations of sexual solicitation were dismissed due to the expiration of the statute of limitations or lack of evidence. The Supreme Court confirmed that the allegations of receiving sexual services from Yoon between 2006 and 2008 were time-barred, and other bribery charges were also ruled as not guilty.