Yangyang County Mayor Kim Jin-ha Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Corruption

Kim Jin-ha (김진하), the mayor of Yangyang County, has been sentenced to two years in prison for engaging in corrupt practices, including accepting bribes from female constituents in exchange for resolving their issues. The Chuncheon District Court's Sokcho branch announced the verdict on June 26, 2025, also imposing a fine of 10 million won and a confiscation order for 5 million won, along with the seizure of a massage chair that served as evidence in the case.

The court found that Kim had committed inappropriate acts, including exposing himself at a café owned by a female complainant, referred to as A. Additionally, he was accused of receiving cash and a high-end massage chair from A in return for facilitating land use changes and permits, as well as engaging in sexual relations for personal gain.

During the prosecution's closing arguments on May 29, they sought a six-year prison sentence, along with a fine of 40 million won and a confiscation order for 20 million won. In his defense, Kim claimed that he was in a romantic relationship with A, asserting that their interactions were consensual. However, the court dismissed this claim, stating that the messages exchanged did not reflect a typical romantic relationship. While the court did not fully accept the charge of sexual assault, it acknowledged some of Kim's claims regarding the lack of bribery.

The court emphasized that as the mayor, Kim was expected to uphold his duties and not exploit his position for personal gain. The judge noted that Kim showed no remorse for his actions and consistently provided implausible excuses, warranting a severe penalty.

In related rulings, A received a sentence of one year and six months for her role in the bribery, while Park Bong-kyun (박봉균), a Yangyang County council member accused of colluding with A to extort Kim, was sentenced to one year in prison with a three-year probation period.