Prosecutor Acquitted Again in Case Involving Mockery of Former First Lady Kim Geon-hee

On April 16, 2025, the Seoul High Court acquitted Jin Hye-won, a deputy prosecutor from the Busan District Prosecutor's Office, of charges related to mocking Kim Geon-hee, the wife of former President Yoon Suk-yeol. This ruling follows a previous acquittal in the first trial. The court, presided over by Judge Jeong Jae-o, found that Jin's actions did not constitute violations of the National Public Service Act, the Public Official Election Act, or defamation. The court stated that Jin's posts and comments on social media did not demonstrate intent to influence the election outcomes for specific candidates. Regarding the defamation charges, the court ruled that the evidence presented did not support claims that Jin had posted false information about Kim Geon-hee. Jin had previously posted a photo of Kim on Facebook in September 2022, questioning her knowledge of the spelling of 'Julie' and including a term that could be interpreted as derogatory. Additionally, Jin faced allegations of encouraging votes for specific political parties through her posts in early 2021. The first trial had already concluded with a similar verdict, emphasizing that Jin's expressions were personal opinions rather than attempts to sway electoral results. After the ruling, Jin expressed gratitude for the court's recognition of her right to political expression as guaranteed by the constitution.