Jee Kui-youn, a presiding judge at the Seoul Northern District Court who had overseen the first trial for former President Yoon Suk-yeol on charges of leading an insurrection, has been indicted on charges of violating the anti-graft law in connection with so-called "entertainment" allegations.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) said on the 4th that it indicted Director General Judge Jee without detention on charges of receiving entertainment at a so-called "reservation-only bar" from local attorneys. However, it decided not to indict on bribery charges, determining there was no quid pro quo such as providing favorable treatment in trials.
According to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), Director General Judge Jee is accused of having two attorneys pay 4.09 million won at a reservation-only bar in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, in Aug. 2023, thereby receiving entertainment exceeding 1 million won in a single instance.
Earlier, the Democratic Party of Korea released a photo last May of Director General Judge Jee with two attorneys and raised suspicions that the venue was a room salon. Civic groups subsequently filed complaints, and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) also launched an investigation, concluding that the bar tab for Jee's entertainment exceeded 1 million won.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) executed warrants for communication records and for the seizure of taxi app usage records regarding Director General Judge Jee. It also said it verified Jee's movements through financial transactions and payment records obtained from the establishment owner and other reference witnesses.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) summoned Director General Judge Jee for questioning on Apr. 4, but Jee reportedly denied all charges, saying the judge "does not remember."
However, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) decided not to indict on bribery charges. It said it was difficult to conclude there was a quid pro quo for the entertainment at the time. While there is a case in which, in 2013, when Director General Judge Jee worked on a civil panel at the Suwon District Court, Jee issued an appellate ruling reversing a first-trial loss in a case handled by an attorney who provided entertainment in this case, 10 years had passed since the time of the entertainment.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) said, "We have notified the affiliated institution of the investigation results," adding, "We will make every effort to maintain the prosecution going forward."