[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] Chung Eun-mi, the younger sister of Hyundai Card Vice Chairman Chung Tae-young, has been acquitted by the Supreme Court on charges of forging his seal.
According to legal sources on May 12, the Supreme Court’s third division, presided over by Justice Lee Heung-gu, dismissed the prosecution’s appeal on April 25 and upheld the lower court’s ruling, confirming Chung's acquittal on charges including obstruction of official duties by fraudulent means.
Chung was indicted in 2020 for allegedly fabricating a seal belonging to her brother, Vice Chairman Chung, and submitting it through an architect during a residential zoning change application for a property in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The house was jointly owned by Chung Eun-mi, her two brothers, and their father. The case began after Vice Chairman Chung filed a complaint against his sister.
Prosecutors argued that Chung submitted documents related to inheritance tax payments, containing the personal information of the other co-owners, without their consent. These were used to apply for the zoning change.
During the trial, Chung expressed regret over the confusion but denied any criminal intent. She stated, “I cared for my mother for a year and managed the home my parents lived in for 50 years. My eldest brother, who had shown no prior interest, has now filed a criminal complaint to intimidate me.”
The first trial court found no evidence of intent to deceive and acquitted her, noting that the architect had not informed her that other co-owners’ seals or a power of attorney were required. The ruling was upheld by both the appellate court and the Supreme Court.
Separately, Vice Chairman Chung had previously filed a lawsuit against his two siblings seeking return of his reserved inheritance share. In a ruling finalized last year, the court ordered the younger brother to pay KRW 32.38 million and Chung Eun-mi to pay KRW 111.22 million.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
