"Illegal support for Lee Jae-myung's presidential campaign pledges" allegations... Former Korea Institute for Defense Analyses chief Kim Yuntae acquitted in first trial

Former Korea National Defense University Professor Noh Yeongu Receives Suspended Sentence

Court: "Advice on Policy Pledges Is Not Covered by the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act"

Kim Yuntae, former president of the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, was acquitted at the first trial of charges that he supported the development of defense policy pledges for Lee Jae-myung, then the Democratic Party of Korea's presidential candidate, during the 20th presidential election. Noh Yeongu, a former professor at Korea National Defense University, and Kim Jeongseop, former vice president of the Sejong Institute, who were tried alongside him, were found guilty.

Kim Yoon-tae, former president of the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses. Yonhap News

The 13th Criminal Division of the Seoul Northern District Court, presided over by Judge Na Sanghun, acquitted Kim and Korea Institute for Defense Analyses research fellows Bu Hyeonguk, Park Jihoon, and Ahn Seokgi on the 5th. They had been indicted on charges of violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act.

The court found it difficult to classify the advice on policy pledges provided by Korea Institute for Defense Analyses researchers as services commissioned by a public institution, which are prohibited under the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act. It said the advice did not fall within the institute's core duties and that providing it could not be considered an ordinary transaction.

However, the charges against Kim and the research fellows were limited to violations of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act. The prosecution did not indict them for violating the Public Official Election Act because the statute of limitations for that offense had expired. Accordingly, the court ruled only on whether they had violated the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act.

By contrast, Noh, who was indicted on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act and the State Public Officials Act, was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, for the former offense, and six months in prison, suspended for one year, along with a one-year suspension of his qualifications, for the latter. Kim, the former vice president, who was also indicted on a charge of violating the Public Official Election Act, was fined 7 million won.

The court cited as evidence of Noh's guilt his participation in a Telegram group chat for developing Lee's defense policy pledges, his drafting of related documents, and the fact that their contents were incorporated into the actual pledges. It also found that he had used his position as a Korea National Defense University professor to take part in planning an election campaign.

Regarding Kim, the court found that he had invited Noh to the group chat despite knowing that Noh was a public official and was prohibited from engaging in election activities. It also found that Kim had led the development of the policy pledges and delivered the resulting materials to the election organization.

The court said of Noh, "He seriously violated his duty of neutrality to maintain an impartial stance in elections, and the nature of his offense is grave."

In January 2024, the Board of Audit and Inspection announced the results of an audit finding that the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses had improperly supported the development of Lee's defense policy pledges ahead of the 20th presidential election, and requested a prosecution investigation.

Meanwhile, at the final hearing in July 2026, prosecutors sought prison terms of one year each for Kim and the former vice president, and one year and six months for Noh.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.