Lawyer Kwak Jeonggi, Former Police Officer in 'Baekhyeon-dong Investigation Quashing Request' Case, Receives Suspended Prison Sentence on Appeal

Received 50 Million Won from Private Developer... Acquitted of Bribery in First Trial
Appeals Court: "No Contradictions in Evidence of Money Request"

Lawyer Kwak Jeonggi, a former senior police superintendent who was indicted for receiving money in exchange for promising to use his influence to quash the investigation into the Baekhyeon-dong development corruption case, has been sentenced to prison on appeal.

The Seoul High Court Criminal Division 6-3 (Judges Lee Yesul, Jeong Jaeo, and Choi Eunjeong) on the 17th overturned the lower court's ruling, which had fined Lawyer Kwak 10 million won for violating the Attorney-at-Law Act, and instead sentenced him to two years and six months in prison, suspended for four years. The court also ordered the forfeiture of 50 million won.

Lawyer Kwak was indicted on charges of receiving 50 million won from Jeong Baul, Chairman of Asia Developer and a private contractor in the Baekhyeon-dong development project, in June and July 2022. The funds were allegedly received in addition to a 700 million won retainer for handling the police investigation into the Baekhyeon-dong case, under the pretext of facilitating introductions to public officials and influence peddling.

The court stated, "Chairman Jeong's testimony is consistent and specific in its key aspects, with no contradictions within the testimony itself," adding, "Although there was some confusion about the initial location where the cash was requested, the core elements of the indictment-namely, the purpose of the cash, its intended use, and the amount-are all very specific and consistently described." Previously, the first trial court had acquitted Kwak of the charge of receiving 50 million won, stating that "the evidence does not reach the level of reasonable certainty."

Lawyer Kwak previously served as head of the Special Investigation Division at the National Police Agency and as chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Intelligence Crime Investigation Unit before moving to a law firm in 2019. He is known for leading the investigation into the Burning Sun nightclub case during his tenure with the police.