Trial Panel Handling Judge Ji Gwi-yeon Changed Over Alleged Drinking-Party Hospitality; Fellow Classmate’s Reassignment Request Eases Concerns About Impartiality

[Financial News] The first-trial panel handling Seoul Northern District Court Presiding Judge Ji Gwi-yeon’s case over alleged drinking-party hospitality has been changed. The case was initially assigned to a judge who was Ji’s fellow classmate at the Judicial Research and Training Institute. However, the judge requested reassignment because the shared affiliation could give rise to concerns about the trial’s impartiality.
The Seoul Central District Court said in a media notice on the 8th that Presiding Judge Park Kang Kyun of Criminal Division 4, who had received the case the previous day, "requested reassignment today because the fact that he and the defendant are from the same class at the Judicial Research and Training Institute could raise concerns about the impartiality of the trial."
Presiding Judge Park Kang Kyun was in the same 31st class at the Judicial Research and Training Institute as Presiding Judge Ji Gwi-yeon. 
After determining that grounds for reassignment existed, the court conducted another random computerized allocation. The case was consequently assigned to Presiding Judge Lee Jae-wook of Criminal Division 10, a member of the institute’s 34th class.
Presiding Judge Ji Gwi-yeon was indicted without detention on allegations that, around August 2023, he had two lawyer acquaintances pay approximately 4.09 million won for drinks at a reservation-only establishment in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, thereby receiving hospitality worth approximately 1.36 million won on one occasion.
Under the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, a public official who receives money, goods, or hospitality worth more than 1 million won from the same person on a single occasion is subject to punishment regardless of whether the benefit was related to the official’s duties or provided in exchange for a favor.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), which investigated the case, also examined whether there was a quid pro quo, given that the people who provided the hospitality were lawyers. However, it did not apply bribery charges, citing factors including the fact that the lawyers had no cases being handled by Judge Ji Gwi-yeon’s panel.
As presiding judge of Criminal Division 25 at the Seoul Central District Court, Judge Ji Gwi-yeon handled the first trial of former President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges of being the leader of an insurrection and sentenced him to life imprisonment. He later transferred to the Seoul Northern District Court during the regular personnel reshuffle in February.
 
[email protected] Choi Eun-sol Reporter