Sitting Senior Judge Caught Drunk Driving for 4 km at License-Suspension Level, Given Three-Month Pay Cut

According to the legal community on the 23rd, the Supreme Court of Korea imposed a three-month pay cut on Judge A of the Seoul Central District Court on the 3rd and published the decision in the official gazette. The Supreme Court stated that the judge "damaged the dignity expected of a judge and undermined the authority of the court."

Judge A was found to have been caught on December 13 last year at around 3:01 p.m., after driving about 4 kilometers with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.071%, a level that warrants license suspension. He had left a Korean restaurant near Sagajeong Station in Jungnang-gu, Seoul. The day in question was a Saturday. The judge is currently assigned to a civil division.

The Discipline of Judges Act defines as grounds for disciplinary action: violation or neglect of official duties, and conduct that damages dignity or undermines authority. Available disciplinary measures are suspension from duty, pay cut, and reprimand. A pay cut means reducing up to one-third of the judge’s salary for a period of between one month and one year.

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Korea finalizes disciplinary measures based on the decision of the disciplinary committee and publishes them in the official gazette. If the person concerned objects to the decision, they may file a petition with the Supreme Court to have it annulled.