Statement of Explanation and Supporting Materials Submitted to Supreme Court's Office of Ethics and Audit on May 22
Ji Guiyeon, Chief Judge of the Seoul Central District Court (Judicial Research and Training Institute, Class 31), has submitted a statement of explanation to the Supreme Court regarding the allegations of entertainment at an adult entertainment establishment raised by the Democratic Party of Korea.
No Jongmyeon, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is revealing photos related to the allegations of 'room salon entertainment' involving Ji Guiyeon, Chief Judge of the Seoul Central District Court, at the party's central office in Yeouido, Seoul on the 19th. The Democratic Party's Central Election Committee stated that "Judge Ji denied visiting the room salon in connection with the allegations of room salon entertainment" and announced the decision to release the photos regarding this matter. 2025.5.19 Photo by Kim Hyunmin
According to the legal community on May 23, Chief Judge Ji submitted a document stating her position on the allegations, along with supporting materials, to the Supreme Court's Office of Ethics and Audit on May 22. It is reported that all those present in the photos released by the Democratic Party are legal professionals. In relation to this, Chief Judge Ji claimed that it was merely a social gathering and that the entertainment allegations raised by the Democratic Party are not true.
On May 19, the Democratic Party released three photos, including a picture of Chief Judge Ji with two other people at a location presumed to be a bar in Gangnam, Seoul, as well as a photo of the bar's main hall. The Democratic Party claimed that Chief Judge Ji was entertained at an adult entertainment bar with female staff, but did not disclose specific details such as the cost, whether any payments were made on her behalf, or who paid for the services.
Previously, on the day the photos were released, Chief Judge Ji stated before the trial of former President Yoon Sukyeol, "I am well aware that there are many concerns and worries due to the recent allegations raised about me," and added, "The allegations are not true, and I have never even thought about being entertained at such a place (room salon)." She further stated, "I usually spend time eating pork belly and drinking somaek. Above all, we are no longer in an era where people involved in a case would entertain a judge."
The Supreme Court's Office of Ethics and Audit is conducting an on-site inspection and verifying the facts by investigating those involved, based on the information reported by the Democratic Party.
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