Who is Judge Ji Gui-yeon of the 'Yoon Insurrection Case' Trial... Known for 'Yoo Ah-in Detention' and 'Lee Jae-yong Not Guilty' Verdicts

President Yoon Suk-yeol is attending the 4th impeachment trial hearing held at the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 23rd. Photo by Joint Press Corps

The case of President Yoon Seok-yeol, who was indicted on charges of leading a rebellion, has been assigned to Judge Ji Gwi-yeon (51, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 31) of the 25th Criminal Division at the Seoul Central District Court, the court announced on the 31st.

Judge Ji, a native of Seoul, graduated from Gaepo High School and Seoul National University with a degree in law. He passed the 41st Judicial Examination in 1999. After completing the Judicial Research and Training Institute in 2002, he served as a legal officer in the Air Force to fulfill his military service, then began his judicial career in 2005 at the Incheon District Court. He subsequently served at the Seoul Family Court, Jangheung Branch of the Gwangju District Court, and Suwon District Court.

He served twice as a Supreme Court judicial research judge in 2015 and 2020, and also worked as a chief judge at the Eastern Branch of the Busan District Court. Since February 2023, he has been assigned to the 25th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court.

In February of last year, he acquitted Lee Jae-yong, Chairman of Samsung Electronics, on all 19 charges in the first trial concerning allegations of improper involvement in the merger between Samsung C&T Corporation and Cheil Industries. In September of the same year, he presided over the drug case of actor Yoo Ah-in (38, real name Eom Hong-sik), sentencing him to one year in prison and a fine of 2 million won, and ordered his detention in court.

This court division has also handled cases involving former Minister Kim, Police Commissioner Cho, former Seoul Police Chief Kim Bong-sik, former Commander of the Military Intelligence Command Noh Sang-won, and former Colonel Kim Yong-gun, who served as the military police commander of the 3rd Field Army Command.