The first trial of Lee Cheol-kyu, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, regarding drug use allegations against his son and daughter-in-law was held on the 18th at the Seoul Central District Court. Nine lawyers were appointed for this trial, three of whom are reported to be former judges, former chief judges, and former prosecutors.
Lee Kyoung-chun, the representative lawyer of the law firm Class Han-gyeol representing the lawmaker's son and daughter-in-law (16th Judicial Research and Training Institute), served as the first chief judge of the Seoul Rehabilitation Court from 2017 to 2019. After retiring from this position, he joined Class Han-gyeol as a representative lawyer. This lawyer hails from Haenam, South Jeolla Province, and began his judicial career as a judge at the Seoul Southern District Court in 1987, later serving as Director General at the Seoul Central District Court, Daejeon High Court, and Incheon District Court, and also held the position of Director General at the Seoul High Court.
Yu Nam-geun, a lawyer affiliated with the same law firm (23rd Judicial Research and Training Institute), was also appointed as a defense attorney for this trial. He is from South Gyeongsang Province and began his judicial career as a judge at the Busan District Court in 1997. He has since served as Director General at the Changwon District Court, Suwon District Court, and Seoul Central District Court, and he opened his law practice in 2020.
Jeong Seung-myeon, a lawyer from the law firm Myun (26th Judicial Research and Training Institute), was also appointed as a defense attorney. Hailing from Daegu, he was appointed as a prosecutor at the Incheon District Prosecutor's Office in 1999, later serving as Director General at the Suwon District Prosecutor's Office, Daegu District Prosecutor's Office, Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office, and Busan District Prosecutor's Office. He opened his law practice in 2018.
The lawmaker's son and daughter-in-law were indicted on charges of violating the Act on the Control of Narcotics. The son is accused of attempting to locate liquid cannabis buried in a flower bed in a residential area of Seocho-gu using a technique known as 'tossing' last October, but he did not succeed. It is known that the daughter-in-law was also in the rented car at that time. Both individuals tested positive for cannabis according to the results from the National Forensic Service.