'Judicial Scandal Involved Guilty' Lee Mingul Also Appeals First Trial Verdict

Former Director of Planning and Coordination Office at the Court Administration Office, Min-geol Lee (left), and Former Standing Member of the Supreme Court Sentencing Commission, Gyu-jin Lee /
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] Lee Mingul, former Director of Planning and Coordination at the Court Administration Office, who was indicted on suspicion of involvement in judicial corruption, has appealed the first trial verdict. Lee will face the appellate trial together with co-defendant former judge Lee Gyujin, who also filed an appeal the day before.

According to the legal community on the 26th, Lee's lawyer submitted an appeal against the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 32 (Chief Judge Yoon Jongsup)'s ruling, which sentenced him to 10 months in prison with a 2-year probation.

Earlier, immediately after being convicted, Lee expressed his intention to appeal, stating, "Since the trial is still ongoing, I will speak in court."

Lee was found guilty in the first trial for attempting to dismantle the International Human Rights Law Research Association, a group of judges critical of the judicial administration of the Court Administration Office, and for trying to ascertain the inclinations of the trial panel handling a case involving a member of the People's Party.

Meanwhile, the former judge was indicted and brought to trial on charges of illegally collecting confidential information from the Constitutional Court, interfering in trials related to the former Unified Progressive Party, and surveilling judges.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.