Police Do Not Indict Chief Justice Kim Myeong-su Over Alleged Misuse of Official Residence Budget

Practical Staff Decides 'No Suspicion'

The regular meeting of the Judicial Administration Advisory Council was held on the 8th at the Supreme Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, with Chief Justice Kim Myeong-su presiding over the meeting. / Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] The police have decided not to prosecute Chief Justice Kim Myeong-su, who was accused of unauthorized use of other budgets during the remodeling of the official residence. The staff members who were also accused were cleared of charges and not prosecuted.

On the 27th, the Seocho Police Station dismissed the case against Chief Justice Kim, who was reported on the 23rd for embezzlement of state funds under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.

The police summoned and investigated fewer than 10 employees but reportedly found no evidence to prove Chief Justice Kim’s embezzlement charges. Therefore, no investigation was conducted on Chief Justice Kim.

Furthermore, it was interpreted that since the budget was neither embezzled by him nor used for the benefit of a third party, it is difficult to consider the budget as having been used illegally.

In 2019, the Board of Audit and Inspection pointed out in its financial audit report of the Supreme Court that 475.1 million KRW of the budget for the remodeling project of the Chief Justice’s official residence, carried out after Chief Justice Kim’s inauguration, was used or diverted without approval from the Minister of Strategy and Finance and the National Assembly’s resolution.

In the same year, lawyer Jeon Sang-hwa filed a police report accusing Chief Justice Kim and the staff of embezzlement under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes.