Judge Kang Sang-wook, who died while handling the divorce case of Chey Tae-won and Noh So-young, recognized as 'duty-related death'

The late Kang Sang-wook (Judicial Research and Training Institute class 33), a judge at the Seoul High Court who was handling the appeal trial of the divorce lawsuit between SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and Noh So-young, director of Art Center Nabi, has been recognized as having died in the line of duty.

Seoul Central District Court, Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

According to the legal community on the 2nd, the Ministry of Personnel Management approved the claim for survivor benefits due to death in the line of duty, filed by Judge Kang's bereaved family, on the 24th of last month.

Judge Kang suddenly collapsed while exercising in the courtyard of the Supreme Court on the evening of January 11th and was transported to the hospital but ultimately passed away.

It is known that he often returned to his office to work overtime after exercising. The bereaved family applied for recognition of death in the line of duty, stating that Judge Kang died while performing his official duties.

The Family Division 2 of the Seoul High Court, to which Judge Kang belonged, was hearing the second trial of the divorce case between Chairman Chey and Director Noh. After Judge Kang's death, this panel was newly composed of Chief Judge Kim Si-cheol, High Court Judge Lee Dong-hyun, and High Court Judge Kim Ok-gon, and delivered a verdict on May 30th.