Insulting the Judge with "X-like Korean Law"... Drug Offender Receives Additional 4-Month Prison Sentence

"Contempt of Court Undermines Fair Trial... Strict Punishment Needed"

A drug offender who insulted the presiding judge out of dissatisfaction with the verdict was additionally sentenced to four months in prison for contempt of court.

On the 30th, Judge Kang Wansu of the Criminal Division 2 at Uijeongbu District Court sentenced Mr. A, who was charged with contempt of court, to four months in prison.

A drug offender who insulted the presiding judge after being dissatisfied with the ruling on the 30th was additionally sentenced to four months in prison for contempt of court.

Mr. A was charged with disrupting the trial by loudly shouting, "Korean law is like X. Whether you confess or expose everything," after the presiding judge (Chief Judge Choi Jongjin) dismissed his appeal during the appellate sentencing trial at Uijeongbu District Court around 9:40 a.m. on November 9 last year.

Judge Kang stated, "The time when the defendant committed the insult was before the presiding judge declared the trial closed and before the defendant left the courtroom, and the location was inside the courtroom under renovation. The defendant was aware of this or could have been sufficiently aware. When a party to the trial makes such insulting remarks toward the presiding judge during the trial, it causes the judge to feel insulted and embarrassed."

He continued, "Contempt of court is a crime that undermines the court's fair trial function and requires strict punishment. Aside from the defendant's feeble excuse that 'the insults were not directed at the judge but were merely muttered complaints,' there is little evidence of sincere remorse for the crime," explaining the sentencing rationale.

Previously, Mr. A was prosecuted for violating the Narcotics Control Act and served two years in prison in 2019 before being released. Later, in September 2021, he used methamphetamine three times at an officetel in Uijeongbu City and voluntarily reported this to the investigative authorities.

Regarding the second drug charge case, the first trial court sentenced him to one year and two months in prison, stating, "He admitted all the offenses in this case and showed willingness to quit drugs," but Mr. A appealed, claiming the sentence was too harsh despite his voluntary surrender.

However, the appellate court dismissed the appeal, and Mr. A made insulting remarks toward the presiding judge. The prosecution conducted additional investigations into the contempt of court charge and then indicted Mr. A.