The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 25 (presiding judge Jee Kui-youn) on the 19th sentenced former President Yoon Suk-yeol to life imprisonment on charges of being the ringleader of insurrection in connection with the "Dec. 3 emergency martial law" incident. It was the conclusion reached 384 days after Criminal Division 25 received this case.
During the trial period of more than a year, presiding judge Jee Kui-youn had to endure various baseless allegations, from fake news claiming "Chinese immigrant origin" to a "room salon entertainment controversy."
◇ After canceling Yoon's detention, claims of an "patriotic judge" too… the ruling camp raised a "room salon" allegation
Criminal Division 25, where Director General Judge Jee serves as presiding judge, received the case of the former president's ringleader-of-insurrection charge on Jan. 31 last year. Some hard-line supporters spread fake news that Director General Judge Jee was of "Chinese immigrant origin" right after Jee took the case, citing the unusual name. Then, when Director General Judge Jee decided to cancel the former president's detention, some supporters called Jee a "hero" and a "patriotic judge."
Meanwhile, in the ruling camp, allegations were raised that after that, Director General Judge Jee received entertainment from people connected to official duties at a room salon. The Supreme Court launched its own inquiry and said it found that at the time Director General Judge Jee had dinner with junior attorneys and personally paid for the food. It also said the bar in question was visited at the suggestion of an accompanying attorney after dinner and was a place with a large hall and live singing facilities, not like a room salon. Director General Judge Jee eventually denied the allegations directly in the courtroom.
Based on the findings at the time, the Supreme Court produced an internal review result that it was difficult to acknowledge a connection to official duties. However, the allegations led to an investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), and Director General Judge Jee ended up facing even a search and seizure.
◇ Trial management also drew attention… remark of "the courtroom is cold"
As Director General Judge Jee exclusively handled major trials related to the Dec. 3 emergency martial law incident, the trial management style also came under scrutiny. Jee sometimes conducted the proceedings with jokes; some said this softened the heavy mood of a criminal courtroom, while others argued it did not fit the nature of a trial dealing with the grave charge of insurrection.
At the Oct. 30 hearing last year, when defense attorneys objected during scheduling of the next date, Director General Judge Jee joked, "Seeing our attorneys' earnest eyes is making me soft-hearted." At the Jan. 6 hearing, Jee also told reporters seated in the gallery, "Reporters, please write some articles for us. The courtroom is cold. Only then will the National Court Administration Minister allocate a budget; when we say it, we're told to endure with a 'hungry spirit.'"
Criticism of Director General Judge Jee peaked at the sentencing hearing on Jan. 9. At the time, an attorney for former Minister Kim Yong-hyun invoked "protection of the right to defense" and launched a filibuster-level (unlimited debate in the National Assembly) argument, delaying the proceedings, and Director General Judge Jee faced criticism for not actively restraining it. When the sentencing hearing eventually went past midnight, the special counsel's sentencing recommendation, which had been scheduled, was postponed to Jan. 13.
Some, however, interpreted this as an attempt, given the nature of the case, to guarantee as much speaking opportunity as possible to the former president's side. The idea was to secure grounds that sufficient opportunity had been provided. Moreover, when the former minister's side tussled with the special counsel over evidentiary procedures, Director General Judge Jee remarked, "The difference between a pro and an amateur is not whining."
◇ As the presiding judge, ruled not guilty in Lee Jae-yong's "illegal succession of Samsung management control" case
Director General Judge Jee is regarded in the legal community as a judge who has followed an elite path. After graduating from Seoul Gaepo High School and Seoul National University School of Law, Jee completed the Judicial Research and Training Institute as Class of 31 in 2002. After completing military service as an Air Force legal officer, Jee began a judicial career at the Incheon District Court in 2005. Jee later served as a judge at the Seoul Family Court, the Suwon District Court, and as a chief judge at the Busan District Court Dongbu Branch, and then spent six years in total as a Supreme Court research judge in 2015 and 2020. A Supreme Court research judge is considered a key post within the judiciary. Jee is also known to be from the International Human Rights Law Research Society, a group of judges with a progressive orientation.
Director General Judge Jee has served at the Seoul Central District Court since Feb. 2023. As presiding judge of Criminal Division 25 for three years, Jee handled numerous major cases. In Feb. 2024, as the presiding judge in the "illegal succession of Samsung management control" case, Jee acquitted Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong on all 19 charges applied to him. In September of the same year, actor Yoo Ah-in (birth name Eom Hong-sik), indicted on charges of drug use, was sentenced to one year in prison and was taken into custody in court. In December last year, former Minister of National Defense Seo Wook and former National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director Park Ji-won, indicted in connection with the killing of a public official in the West Sea and other matters, were also acquitted.
Director General Judge Jee is scheduled to transfer to the Seoul Northern District Court on the 23rd.