South Korean Broadcaster Park Soo-hong's Brother Sentenced to 3.5 Years for Embezzlement

Park Soo-hong's brother, Park Mo, has been sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison by the Supreme Court of South Korea for embezzling billions of won from the popular broadcaster.

On the 26th, the Supreme Court's first division upheld the lower court's ruling against Park Mo and his wife, Lee Mo, who were charged with embezzlement under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes. Park Mo received a sentence of 3 years and 6 months, while Lee Mo was given a suspended sentence of 1 year and 6 months with 2 years of probation.

Park Mo was accused of misappropriating Park Soo-hong's appearance fees and company funds while running two entertainment agencies from 2011 to 2021. Initially, prosecutors estimated the embezzlement amount to be approximately 6.17 billion won, but this was adjusted to around 4.8 billion won after excluding some overlapping amounts during the first trial.

The first trial court found Park Mo guilty of embezzling 2 billion won in company funds and sentenced him to 2 years in prison, while Lee Mo was acquitted due to insufficient evidence of collusion. However, the sentence was increased in the second trial. In December of last year, the appellate court considered the method and scale of Park Mo's crimes and increased his sentence to 3 years and 6 months, ordering his immediate detention. Lee Mo, who was acquitted in the first trial, received a suspended sentence.

The appellate court stated, "The substantial damage caused by Park Mo's crimes continues, and the victim is pleading for severe punishment. The method of the crime is particularly egregious, which is considered an aggravating factor." The Supreme Court accepted the appellate court's judgment and confirmed the sentences.

Reported by Se-yoon Jung, TenAsia yoon@tenasia.co.kr