Supreme Court of Korea Finally Rejects Appeal by Attorney for Kim Yong-hyun Against 15-Day Confinement

[Financial News] The attorney for former Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Korea Kim Yong-hyun, who was ordered to 15 days of confinement for violating courtroom order and has been taken into custody, filed an appeal, but the Supreme Court of Korea has rejected it.
According to legal sources on the 10th, the First Division of the Supreme Court of Korea, presided over by Justice Noh Tae-ak, on the 6th dismissed a special appeal filed by attorneys Ha-Sang Lee and Kwon Woo-hyun, who represent the former minister. The court also dismissed a motion concerning the execution of the confinement order filed by Lee. In this context, confinement refers to a court-ordered detention in a prison or detention center for a certain period for those who violate courtroom order.
Attorney Lee was placed in confinement on the 3rd, following a trial in which the former minister faced charges including obstruction of official duties by deceit.
Previously, Criminal Agreement Division 33 of the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Judge Lee Jin-gwan, was conducting the examination of former Minister Kim as a witness in the trial of former Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea Han Duck-soo in November last year. During that process, Kim requested that his attorneys, Ha-Sang Lee and Kwon Woo-hyun, be allowed to participate in the proceedings as persons in a relationship of trust, but the court denied the request. After a heated exchange with the defense, the court imposed 15 days of confinement on the attorneys, but because their personal details had not been properly specified, the order was stayed and they were released from the Seoul Detention Center.
After their release, they appeared on the YouTube channel "The Advancing Lawyers," where they openly criticized Presiding Judge Lee Jin-gwan, drawing public backlash. During the confinement hearing, the court found problematic that attorney Kwon had addressed the bench with remarks such as "Are you trying to pick a fight?" and "We will see you at the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO)," and therefore imposed an additional five days of confinement. They appealed to the Seoul High Court, but the appeal was dismissed, leaving the 15-day confinement in place.
The current confinement enforces the earlier order that could not be carried out because the individuals’ personal details had not been clearly specified. However, attorney Kwon, who had been sentenced to confinement together with Lee, did not appear and therefore was not taken into confinement.
Attorney Lee’s side immediately issued a statement after the confinement order and lodged a protest. They stated, "There was no disturbance or other disorder caused in the courtroom during the trial in question, and we made it clear that we would give a statement at the confinement hearing if an attorney were allowed to be present."
Attorney Lee, who is confined at the Seoul Detention Center, is expected to remain in custody until the 16th.
theknight@fnnews.com Jung Kyung-soo Reporter