Kim Sang-min, a former prosecutor, has been partially acquitted of charges relating to the delivery of a painting by Lee U-hwan to Kim Geon-hee, first lady of South Korea and wife of President Yoon Suk-yeol. The court ruled that there is a possibility that Kim merely acted as a purchasing agent for Kim Geon-hee's brother, rather than directly delivering the artwork to her. The ruling follows allegations that Kim Sang-min had sought political favors in exchange for the painting, valued at approximately 140 million KRW. The special counsel team has announced intentions to appeal the verdict, aiming to establish guilt based on new evidence.

The case revolves around accusations that in February 2023, Kim Sang-min was involved in bribery under the anti-corruption law while attempting to secure nominations for the upcoming general elections. His defense argued that he was merely facilitating the request of Kim Geon-hee's brother, Kim Jin-woo, who allegedly paid for the painting in cash. There was also a significant absence of evidence relating to substantial withdrawals from Kim Sang-min's accounts, which the court considered favorable to him. This ruling is critical as it highlights the ongoing controversies surrounding political donations and the influence of artworks in South Korean politics.

The court raised the point that the painting, confiscated at the residence of Kim Jin-woo's mother-in-law, likely remained in Kim Jin-woo's possession at the time of seizure. This fact could imply a failure of proper evidence gathering by the prosecution. Previous communications made public just before the general election had shown that Kim Geon-hee was allegedly soliciting support for Kim Sang-min’s nomination, suggesting deeper political entanglements. However, the court did not factor these details into the case's ruling regarding the painting, which may affect future trials as the implications of such artistic exchanges in political contexts continue to be scrutinized.