Choi Tae-won, chairman of SK Group (64), and Noh So-young, director of Art Center Nabi (63), will have their divorce lawsuit appeal heard by the current panel of judges.
Recently, there was speculation about the possibility of reassignment of the case after Chairman Choi’s side hired a lawyer related to the presiding judges, but the court decided not to reassign the case.
According to the legal community on the 11th, the Seoul High Court reviewed whether the current case, being heard by the Second Family Division (Chief Judges Kim Si-cheol, Kang Sang-wook, Lee Dong-hyun), should be reassigned and decided not to reassign it.
Earlier, after Director Noh changed the claim to a total of 2.03 trillion won for alimony and property division, Chairman Choi strengthened his right to defense by additionally appointing lawyers Noh Jae-ho and Yoo Hae-yong from Kim & Chang law firm on the 9th.
However, since Kim & Chang currently employs a lawyer who is related to the presiding judges, there was a possibility of reassignment of the case in accordance with the Supreme Court Public Officials Ethics Committee’s recommendations.
The Supreme Court Public Officials Ethics Committee has recommended that if a judge’s third- or fourth-degree relatives work as lawyers at a law firm, the judge should, in principle, refrain from handling cases entrusted to that law firm.
The day before, Director Noh’s side submitted a procedural opinion to the court, arguing that Chairman Choi’s sudden additional appointment of lawyers just two days before the hearing was a trick to change the panel of judges anticipating an unfavorable verdict, and requested that the trial proceed without reassignment of the judges.
In response, Chairman Choi’s side rebutted that Director Noh expanded the claims for property division and alimony and additionally asserted issues related to a damages lawsuit against Kim Hee-young, chairperson of the T&C Foundation, in this main lawsuit, and that they appointed lawyer Lee Sang-won, who represents Kim, to respond by additionally appointing the lawyer who represented Chairperson Kim.
After being requested by the panel to review the necessity of reassignment, the Seoul High Court considered the reasons for the review request, the progress of the trial, the degree of hearing, various regulations, and the Supreme Court’s recommendations, and concluded that proceeding with the current panel would not pose any problems.
The trial was originally scheduled to hold its first formal hearing on this day, but the panel issued an order to change the date the day before and decided to set a new date later.
Meanwhile, regarding the court’s decision, Chairman Choi’s side stated in a press release, "We believe that the court’s decision to maintain the current panel for the prompt progress of the trial is a very natural and reasonable measure."
Chairman Choi’s side also expressed regret over the disclosure of Director Noh’s press release and opinion letter to the media, saying, "It is very regrettable that the defendant’s side distributed a press release including the opinion letter submitted to the panel on an issue that should be decided by the court and the presiding judges according to relevant regulations and principles, as in this case."
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