'Investigation into Chae Dong-wook' Nam Jae-joon Appeal Trial Sentencing Delayed Again

Impact of the Supreme Court Ruling on the Cultural Blacklist Case

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The appellate court ruling for Nam Jae-joon, former director of the National Intelligence Service, who was prosecuted for conducting a background investigation on former Prosecutor General Chae Dong-wook, has been postponed once again.

The Criminal Division 12 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Yoon Jong-gu) canceled the appellate ruling on the 4th and decided to resume the trial. This is the third postponement following December last year and January this year. The court stated, "There are several additional factors to consider."

One of the factors mentioned by the court is the 'Cultural Blacklist' case recently ruled on by the Supreme Court's Grand Bench last month. The court explained, "Although this case does not involve the same issues, the Supreme Court's ruling on abuse of authority provided significant legal guidance on how to approach the relationships between public officials or institutions." Although the abuse of authority charge was not applied to former Director Nam and others, the structure of the indictment indicates that NIS employees obtained personal information for improper purposes beyond their official duties, so the Supreme Court ruling could have an impact.

The court requested opinions from both the prosecution and defense on these issues. The next hearing is scheduled for March 3.

Previously, former Director Nam and others were indicted in June 2013 for illegally collecting information related to former Prosecutor General Chae's extramarital child. The first trial acquitted former Director Nam, but co-defendants were sentenced to probation and fines respectively.

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