The prison officer who demanded 40 million won from Kim Ho-joong was true…the Justice Department's admission of a crime
Nov 21, 2025
|
The Ministry of Justice said on the 21st that a fact-finding investigation conducted by the Metropolitan Special Judicial Police Team of the Seoul Metropolitan Government confirmed that A demanded money and threatened Kim Ho-joong.
The Ministry of Justice immediately instructed Somang Prison Chief to file a complaint with the investigative agency against A for bribery, attempted blackmail, and violation of the anti-graft law, and at the same time take heavy disciplinary action.
The Ministry of Justice said "We will strengthen the management and supervision of Somang Prison so that similar cases do not recur, and continue to provide employee integrity training."
Earlier in late September, the Ministry of Justice said from Somang Prison that Mr. A had demanded 40 million won from Mr. Kim Ho-joong" was briefed and ordered a fact-finding investigation. As a result of the investigation, it was found that Mr. A asked Kim Ho-joong to `give me 40 million won because I worked hard to enter the private prison.'
It is reported that Kim Ho-joong did not actually hand over the money, and he confessed this during an interview with another prison guard.
Somang Prison is the only private prison in Korea operated by Agape, a foundation, in the spirit of Christianity, and is known to have a very low recidivism rate. Private prison employees have a separate hiring system from correctional officials belonging to the Ministry of Justice, but the Ministry of Justice has the authority to guide and supervise the operation of facilities under the Private Prison Act.
Meanwhile, Kim Ho-joong was arrested and charged in May last year for driving his vehicle after crossing the central line in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and running away after colliding with a taxi. At that time, he was also accused of ordering his manager, Jang, to turn himself in instead.
Kim Ho-joong was sentenced to two and a half years in prison in both the first and second trials, and he submitted about 130 letters of apology during the appeal process, but the sentence did not change.
narusi@sportschosun.com
