"It's not a fraudulent request"...KIA Kim Jong-guk and Jang Jung-seok are not guilty in the first trial.

"Gifts worth hundreds of millions of won to clubs and spectators before sponsors"
Court "Advertising fees are higher than usual...Former head coach Kim's request"
Former general manager is also not guilty of demanding '200 million' from club players
Court "I asked for back money, but the player didn't ask for it."

[Anchor] Former Kia Tigers coach Kim Jong-kook and former general manager Jang Jung-seok, who were put on trial for allegations of pocketing back money from a sponsor of the
team, were acquitted in the first trial.

The court said it was true that money was exchanged, but it was difficult to see it as an illegal request.

Reporter Kwon Junsu reports.

[Reporter]
Former Kia Tigers coach Kim Jong-kook and former general manager Jang Jung-seok, who were put on trial for receiving 160 million won in bribes from a sponsor company.

Prosecutors asked for four years in prison, but the court acquitted them of all charges.

The court explained that the money given by Kim, who runs a coffee company, to former coach Kim and former general manager Jang could be seen as a player's encouragement as a fan of the club.It was considered that Kim, who handed over the money

, had previously given hundreds of millions of won worth of coffee sets to clubs and spectators as gifts.

The court also emphasized that it was the supervisory office, or the open place, where Kim, the sponsor, met with former director Kim and paid the money.

If it was an illegal request, it was impossible to transfer money from a place where several people came in and out.

Also, the advertising fee Kim signed with the club afterwards was higher than usual, but he said he didn't win the advertisement for a smaller amount, and he explained that former coach Kim asked for the advertisement after the season.

In the case of former general manager Jang, he was also charged with demanding back money in connection with the salary negotiations of Park Dong-won, who was about to become an FA, which was also acquitted.It is true that he asked for 200 million won to make Park

more paid, but the court concluded that Park did not ask for it, and that Park could not be guilty because he did not agree or agree to Jang's request.

The court acquitted him, but added that all the defendants should be morally criticized for doing nothing well, but there was no factor that could directly lead to guilt.

I'm YTN Kwon Junsu.

a photographer for
Edit Video; Eunji Kang
Design; Park Yoo