South Korean Food Mogul Fined for Assaulting Cop During Drunken Ruckus

Kim Dong-hwan, president of South Korean food conglomerate Binggrae, has been fined 5 million KRW ($3,750) by an appeals court for assaulting a police officer who attempted to stop his drunken outburst, the court announced Thursday.

The Seoul Western District Court upheld the original verdict, maintaining the same fine for Kim’s obstruction of law enforcement.

Kim, 42, is the eldest son of Binggrae Chair Kim Ho-yeon and the grandson of the late Kim Chong-hee, founder of Hanwha Group.

He was indicted for assaulting a police officer who responded to a 911 call. The incident occurred in June last year at an apartment complex in Yongsan, central Seoul, where Kim caused a disturbance while intoxicated.

The lower court initially imposed a 5 million KRW ($3,750) fine on Kim, citing the gravity of assaulting an on-duty police officer. However, it also took into account the officers’ requests for leniency. Prosecutors appealed the ruling, arguing that the punishment was too lenient, but the higher court dismissed the appeal.