Judge Ji Gwi-yeon of the Seoul Northern District Court, who has been indicted on allegations of accepting alcohol bribes, has been reassigned to judicial research duties, effectively removing him from presiding over trials.
According to legal sources on October 1, the Supreme Court's Judicial Administrative Office announced that Judge Ji would be transferred to the position of judicial researcher effective October 2. This assignment will last until February 21, 2027.
Judicial research is a system that allows judges to focus on studying legal issues rather than handling court cases. This reassignment appears to be a direct consequence of Judge Ji's indictment last month related to the alcohol bribery allegations.
The Corruption Investigation Office indicted Judge Ji on September 4 for violating the Anti-Corruption Act. He is accused of visiting a reservation-only bar in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam, in August 2013, where he allegedly consumed alcohol with two acquaintances and had them pay a bill totaling 4.09 million won.
The Corruption Investigation Office determined that when the total bill was divided among the three individuals, Judge Ji's share amounted to 1.36 million won. The Anti-Corruption Act prohibits public officials from receiving gifts or favors exceeding 1 million won from a single source, regardless of the context or intent.
Judge Ji has denied the allegations throughout the investigation. His attorney stated on the day of the indictment, "Judge Ji briefly attended a gathering with junior colleagues and left shortly thereafter," asserting that the relationship with the juniors and the circumstances of the meeting were such that the juniors had not worked on any cases related to clients in the past decade.
The attorney further argued, "Even if the Corruption Investigation Office's claims are accepted, the total value of the gifts received from a single source does not exceed 1 million won," emphasizing that the legal criteria for violating the Anti-Corruption Act are not met.
Previously, Judge Ji presided over the first trial of former President Yoon Suk Yeol in a case related to insurrection while working at the Seoul Central District Court last year, sentencing him to life imprisonment in February. He was subsequently transferred to the Seoul Northern District Court during the regular personnel reshuffle that same month.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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