Prison term sought for Gyeonggi superintendent

By Bae Ji-sook

The prosecution on Tuesday asked a local court to give a one year prison sentence to Gyeonggi educational superintendent Kim Sang-gon for violating the election law.
His establishment of the foundation and distribution of a scholarship in his own name violates the election law prohibiting candidates from making public donations, the investigators said.
Officers at the Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office submitted the relevant document to the Suwon District Court saying: “Kim shows no sign of regret though his deeds were clearly illegal.“
Kim was indicted for establishing a 1.2 billion won ($1m) foundation in November 2009 while he was planning to defend his position in the local election the following year. He attended the founding ceremony on December the same year and gave away the money and certificates under his name.
The prosecutors have summoned him four times, but he refused, stating that the investigation was intended to suppress his activities as an educational chief.
Kim, widely regarded as liberal, took over the provincial educational helm in 2009 after winning a by-election. He took office again by winning the local election on June 2, 2010.
Kim is the first educational superintendent to be indicted over scholarship affairs.
(baejisook@heraldcorp.com)