A sitting presiding judge, who received paid overseas golf trips from an acquaintance currently on trial, has been disciplined with a three-month suspension.
On the 13th of last month, the Supreme Court issued a three-month suspension and a disciplinary surcharge of 3.47 million won against Presiding Judge Kim (initials) of the Suwon District Court.
It was revealed that Judge Kim received a total of 3.47 million won worth of overseas golf trip airfares and accommodation expenses from a person identified as A, a team leader at HDC Shilla Duty Free.
In particular, it was confirmed that Judge Kim went on overseas trips together with the team leader on six occasions between July 2023 and May of last year, even while knowing that the team leader was undergoing a trial.
The Supreme Court Disciplinary Committee judged that such actions by Judge Kim compromised the dignity of a judge and undermined public trust and prestige in the judiciary.
Previously, in February of this year, Judge Kim and person A were summarily indicted for violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, receiving summary orders of 5 million won and 3 million won in fines, respectively.
However, as Judge Kim appealed the decision and requested a formal trial, the first public trial is coming up next November.
Previously, while working at the Changwon District Court in February, Judge Kim acquitted political broker Myung Tae-gyun and former lawmaker Kim Young-sun in the first trial on charges of violating the Political Funds Act, while finding Myung guilty only of instigating the concealment of evidence and sentencing him to a suspended prison term.
(Reported by Lee Hyeon-yeong | Video by Lee Da-in | Design by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News)
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