[2020 National Audit] Uri Law Research Association Criticized for Bias... "'Pro-Moon Innocent, Anti-Moon Guilty' Remarks Emerge"

Yoon Han-hong, Member of the People Power Party [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] On the 20th, Yoon Han-hong, a member of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee from the People Power Party, pointed out that judges belonging to the Uri Law Research Association, known as a progressive group within the courts, deliver verdicts based on political leanings in the Seoul High Court, Suwon High Court, and their subordinate courts' national inspections.

On the day, Rep. Yoon said, "There are judges who show behavior devoted to ideology," adding, "Whether they are close to those in power or not, whether they are on one's side or not has become the standard for trials, and the phrase 'pro-Moon innocent, anti-Moon guilty' is often heard." He continued, "Those on trial only look at whether the presiding judge belongs to the Uri Law Research Association," and "If the judge is from the Uri Law Research Association, the outcome is already considered decided."

Rep. Yoon mentioned that Kim Mi-ri, the presiding judge of the first trial of Cho Kwon, the younger brother of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, who is a chief judge of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 21, belongs to the Uri Law Research Association, saying, "This person only sees things as my side or your side." He also described the not guilty verdict for Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung and the suspended sentence verdict for former Busan Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs Yoo Jae-soo as "verdicts that are not logically acceptable."

Kim Chang-bo, Chief Judge of the Seoul High Court, said, "Because social conflicts between factions are severe, there is a worrying phenomenon of judges being divided based on partial facts."

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