Attorneys for former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun will be detained for contempt. They caused a disturbance during a trial related to former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, were released after refusing to state their names in a contempt hearing, then appeared on a YouTube broadcast and hurled profanity at the judge, stirring controversy. The court later decided to execute the detention again.
The Criminal Agreement Division 33 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Lee Jin-gwan) decided on the 24th during the continued first-instance hearing in the case against former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on charges including aiding the leaders of an insurrection to re-execute the contempt detention against the former Minister's attorneys.
Earlier, the former Minister Kim appeared as a witness at the former prime minister Han's trial on the 19th. At the time, attorneys Lee Ha-sang and Kwon Woo-hyun, who represent the former Minister Kim, caused a commotion in court, calling it "abuse of power." The bench ordered them to leave and imposed 15 days of detention for contempt.
However, they held out by refusing to state their names during the contempt hearing, and the Seoul Detention Center, the detention facility, requested additional information on the grounds that their identities had not been established. The bench temporarily released them in the form of a stay of execution.
The two attorneys who were released appeared on the YouTube channel "Charge of the Lawyers" and directed profanity at the presiding judge Lee, saying, "Stop acting pathetic and just do your job," "You should have seen the presiding judge trembling," "Lee Jin-gwan, that bastard, is dead," and "a worthless bastard," among other slurs.
On the 21st, the Seoul Central District Court said, "We view this matter as very grave," adding, "We plan to take appropriate measures in accordance with the relevant laws and procedures against those who have abandoned the dignity and responsibility expected of legal professionals." The Seoul Central District Court is reviewing filing a complaint or requesting disciplinary action against them.
The bench also stated that institutional improvements are needed. Presiding Judge Lee said, "Contempt detention is a procedure like a flagrant offender, where the person is immediately taken into custody and transferred to a detention center," adding, "Because the likelihood of an innocent person being punished is almost nonexistent, the requirements for providing personal information or verifying identity should be relaxed."
He added, "If similar situations recur, we will arrest on the spot as a flagrant offender the person who violates courtroom order, hand the person over to the police immediately, and proceed with criminal procedures for contempt of court."
Presiding Judge Lee also noted that after the witness examination of former President Yoon Suk-yeol concluded on the 19th, an audience member shouted a slogan supporting the former president. Lee said, "We will also proceed with a contempt hearing for the person who caused a courtroom disturbance and fled."