Prosecutors Seek Five-Year Prison Terms for Ex-Vice Minister and Associates Over Residence Relocation

During a hearing at Seoul Central District Court, special counsel Min Joong-ki’s prosecutors asked judges to impose a five-year imprisonment on former Vice Land Minister Kim Oh-jin for alleged favoritism during the 2022 relocation of the presidential residence to Yongsan. The indictment also seeks a five-year term for former presidential secretary Hwang and a three-year term for Kim Tae-young, chief executive of interior-design firm 21 Gram, which carried out the renovation.

Investigators allege Kim and Hwang abused their positions to secure the contract for 21 Gram by arranging for a licensed construction company to lend its licence, a move deemed improper. The alleged misconduct is linked to the election of President Yoon Suk Yeol in March 2022 and to the firm’s connections with former first lady Kim Keon Hee, who previously sponsored its exhibitions. The case highlights concerns over corruption and the use of political influence in public-sector projects.