The Democratic Party of Korea on the 27th called the Supreme Court's decision to issue an additional detention warrant for former first lady Kim Keon-hee "a natural judgment that matches the common sense of the public." The warrant came four days before her detention period was set to expire.
In a written briefing, Park Sung-joon, the party's chief spokesperson, said Kim "was sentenced to seven years in prison at the first trial and five years at the appeals trial on charges of trading public office for favors, after receiving a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace, a painting by artist Lee Ufan and a gold turtle figurine." Park added that "the very fact that she was nearly released because of delays in the trial is a shock to the public."
"The additional detention is not the end," Park said. "This warrant has only bought time. It has not set justice right." Turning to the Supreme Court, Park said the court "referred the case involving the three main allegations against Kim to the full bench one day before the scheduled ruling, and has not reached a conclusion for three months now." The court "must hand down a stern ruling that fits the crime," Park said.
"The five-year sentence from the appeals court is far too light compared with the crime of selling public office to collect luxury goods," Park said. "What the public wants is justice that is not delayed and punishment that fits the crime."