'Judgment in First Trial of Judicial Farming Scandal: Lee Mingul and Lee Gyujin Appeal Verdict Today'

Former Chief of the Judicial Administration Office Lee Min-geol (left) and former Supreme Court Sentencing Commission Standing Member Lee Gyu-jin Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The second trial sentencing hearing for former Planning and Coordination Office Director Lee Mingul and former Supreme Court Sentencing Committee Standing Member Lee Gyujin, who were found guilty in the first trial for their involvement in the abuse of judicial administrative power during former Chief Justice Yang Seungtae’s tenure, will be held.

On the 27th at 2 PM, the Seoul High Court Criminal Division 13 (Presiding Judges Choi Suhwan, Choi Seongbo, Jeong Hyunmi) is scheduled to conduct the appellate sentencing hearing for the four defendants, including former Director Lee and former Standing Member Lee.

At the prosecution’s closing arguments held on the 20th of last month, they requested the court to sentence each defendant to 2 years and 6 months in prison, stating, "The defendants have seriously damaged public trust in the judiciary, and the first trial’s sentences were excessively lenient," maintaining the same sentence as requested in the first trial.

In his final statement, former Director Lee said, "I apologize as someone who held an important responsibility in judicial administration," but added, "I hope the court will make a wise judgment on the legal and factual matters without any prejudice." Former Standing Member Lee stated, "Although I contest the charges, I do not claim that the alleged acts were justified," and apologized to those who suffered because of him, while also mentioning that he endured a difficult time.

Former Director Lee was prosecuted for intervening in status confirmation lawsuits of former Unified Progressive Party lawmakers during former Chief Justice Yang’s tenure and attempting to dismantle judges’ groups critical of judicial administration. Former Standing Member Lee was charged with illegally collecting confidential information from the Constitutional Court, interfering in trials related to the former Unified Progressive Party, and surveilling judges.

In the previous first trial, former Director Lee was sentenced to 10 months in prison with a 2-year probation, and former Standing Member Lee was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison with a 3-year probation. These were the first guilty verdicts issued by courts related to the judicial scandal case.

Meanwhile, former Seoul High Court Chief Judge Shim Sangcheol and Presiding Judge Bang Changhyun, who were also indicted, will receive their appellate sentencing on the same day. They were also found guilty in the first trial.