# South Korean Judge Under investigation for Alleged Improper Influence
A probe into Chief Judge Ji Gwi-yeon‘s interactions with legal professionals raises questions about judicial impartiality as he presides over a high-profile rebellion trial.
Seoul, South Korea – Chief Judge Ji Gwi-yeon, presiding over the trial of individuals accused of leading a rebellion – a case involving former President Yoon Seok-yeol – is now the subject of an investigation by the High-ranking Public Officials Crime Investigation Office (Corruption Investigation Office). The inquiry centers on allegations that the judge received improper hospitality, specifically alcohol, from lawyers.
On April 21st, Judge Ji ordered reporters to leave the courtroom during the second trial session related to the rebellion case, signaling a heightened level of scrutiny surrounding the proceedings. The Corruption Investigation Office recently executed its first search and seizure warrant targeting Judge Ji, obtaining records of his taxi request usage. While a request for his credit card usage details was initially dismissed, the office intends to resubmit a strengthened warrant to access this information in the near future.
The investigation was prompted by claims made by the Democratic Party of Korea, which released a photograph purportedly showing Judge Ji with acquaintances at a bar in August 2023. These allegations suggested that lawyers had provided the judge with entertainment.
The Supreme Court Ethics Audit Office conducted its own preliminary investigation, releasing findings last September. The audit confirmed that Judge Ji did meet with judicial trainees and public interest lawyers on August 9, 2023, for dinner and drinks. He reportedly paid for the first round of beverages, and subsequently joined the group at a bar recommended by junior lawyers, where he consumed one or two drinks before departing. The second round was paid for by one of the junior lawyers, totaling 1.7 million won.
During an audit of the seoul Central District Court on October 20th, Supreme Court ethics Auditor Choi Jin-soo addressed the financial aspect of the gathering. “We cannot accurately determine the unit price of alcohol in bars at the time, but no matter how broadly we divide 1.7 million won, it is less than 1 million won per person,” he stated, adding that it was “difficult to consider it as a reason for disciplinary action under the Anti-Graft Act.” The Anti-Corruption Act stipulates criminal penalties for public officials receiving bribes exceeding 1 million won unrelated to their official duties. Auditor Choi Jin-soo also noted that “Chief Judge Ji and his fellow attendees have had no connection to the case over the past 10 years.”
The Ethics Audit Office concluded that, based on the information available at the time, there was insufficient evidence to warrant disciplinary action against the judge. However, the office emphasized its commitment to “wait for the results of the investigation by the investigative agency and take strict action if the facts revealed in the future amount to misconduct.”
The ongoing investigation underscores the importance of maintaining judicial impartiality and public trust in the South Korean legal system. The outcome of the Corruption Investigation Office’s inquiry will be closely watched as it could have significant implications for the ongoing rebellion trial and the broader perception of fairness within the judiciary.
