The Supreme Court’s decision to change the ruling date while referring Kim Keon Hee’s appeal to the Grand Chamber has brought the case schedule back into focus. The key point confirmed is the “change and provisional setting aside of the ruling date to facilitate the referral one day before the ruling.” Subsequent scheduling and the question of release should be treated as separate matters.
Key Change
The Supreme Court said on July 23, 2026, that it had changed and provisionally set aside the appellate ruling date scheduled for July 24 in order to refer the case involving Kim Keon Hee’s alleged violations of the Capital Markets Act and other charges to the Grand Chamber.
Reports said the case includes allegations related to the Deutsche Motors stock-manipulation case, free opinion polls connected to Myung Tae-kyun, and the receipt of money and valuables from the Unification Church.
The officially confirmed changes are the alteration of the ruling date and the referral to the Grand Chamber.
Current Status
According to reports dated August 30–31, the specific new Grand Chamber hearing date and ruling date for the Kim Keon Hee case had not been disclosed. No official material confirming that the first Grand Chamber hearing date had been set was found at the time of review.
According to the Supreme Court’s official guidance, the Court exercises jurisdiction through the Grand Chamber and panels composed of at least three Supreme Court justices. Reports speculated that vacancies among the justices could delay proceedings, but no material was found indicating that a Grand Chamber hearing would be legally impossible solely because of vacancies.
Impact
Political figures and some media reports raised the possibility that Kim Keon Hee could be released if no ruling were issued by October 28. However, this is a forecast based on claims by political figures and media reports, not an official announcement by the Supreme Court confirming her release.
The currently verifiable points should therefore be distinguished as follows:
- Referral to the Grand Chamber and the change and provisional setting aside of the existing ruling date: confirmed
- New hearing date and ruling date: not officially confirmed as of the time of review
- Whether she will be released at the end of October: a forecast, not an established fact
- Detention-period expiration date: cannot be confirmed without reviewing the case record and the method of calculation
The referral to the Grand Chamber alone also does not establish the likelihood of a guilty or not-guilty verdict, nor can it determine the Supreme Court’s ultimate conclusion.
When to Check Next
The new Grand Chamber hearing date, ruling date, detention period, and release status should be reviewed separately until they are confirmed through the Supreme Court’s official trial information, the case record, or a court decision.
Source Verification
- [Yonhap News: Supreme Court refers Kim Keon Hee’s “three major allegations” appeal to Grand Chamber… ruling postponed](https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20260723142400004) · Checked September 2, 2026
- [Yonhap News: “Kim Keon Hee appeal” referred to Supreme Court Grand Chamber… unusual postponement one day before ruling](https://www.yna.co.kr/amp/view/AKR20260723142452004) · Checked September 2, 2026
- [News1: Kim Keon Hee Grand Chamber schedule unclear amid Supreme Court justice conflict… release possibility also raised](https://www.news1.kr/amp/society/court-prosecution/6273503) · Checked September 2, 2026
- [Supreme Court of the Republic of Korea: Functions and Trials](https://www.scourt.go.kr/supreme/composition/duty/duty01/index.html) · Checked September 2, 2026