Former Gang Cleared of Charges of Threatening Actor Kwon
By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
The Supreme Court Thursday sentenced Kim Tae-chon, 59, former boss of the Gwangju-based gangster group, to one year in prison, upholding lower courts' decision.
Kim was indicted with physical detention in 2006 on charges of threatening famous actor Kwon Sang-woo to participate in a fan meeting and delivering 20 million won ($ 20,000) of bribe to prison officials in exchange for favorable treatment toward him.
In the provincial court, Kim was sentenced to three years in prison for intimidation and bribe-giving charges.
But the appellate court shortened his term to one year, saying ``Kwon's management agency made a contract with Kim on behalf of the actor to make him participate in the questionable fan meeting. Therefore, Kwon then had a duty to take part in the event.''
But the court also convicted him of giving bribe to prison officials.
Kwon gained stardom for his role in SBS hit drama ``Stairways to Heaven'' in 2004. He is one of the highest paid actors in the Korean entertainment industry and has a strong fan base in other Asian countries, particularly Japan.