[2021 National Audit] Chief of Court Administration "Cannot Disclose the Process of Lee Jae-myung's Not Guilty Verdict"

Kim Sang-hwan, Chief of the Court Administration Office, is delivering opening remarks at the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee's audit of the Supreme Court held at the Supreme Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 1st. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

[Asia Economy Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] Kim Sang-hwan, Chief of the Supreme Court Administration Office, stated regarding the acquittal ruling of Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung, "The deliberation process leading to the ruling cannot be disclosed according to the Court Organization Act." Kim also expressed that the controversy over the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's 'judge surveillance documents' is inappropriate.

On the 1st, during the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee's audit, when the People Power Party requested the submission of the trial research officer's report on Governor Lee, Kim responded that cooperation would be difficult and made the statement.

Previously, former Supreme Court Justice Kwon Soon-il faced controversy after it was revealed that he took a position as an advisor for Hwacheon Daeyu, which is under suspicion of preferential treatment in the Daejang-dong development, following his retirement last year. This led to suspicions that former Justice Kwon influenced the acquittal ruling in Governor Lee's public official election law violation case.

In response, Kim reaffirmed the policy by saying, "According to the Court Organization Act, the deliberation process leading to the trial cannot be disclosed," and added, "If the process leading to the ruling is disclosed, it would provide grounds for disputes beyond the final effect. The purpose of the Organization Act is the foundation of the judicial system."

Additionally, regarding the controversy over the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's judge surveillance documents, Kim explained, "Since individual trials are proceeding without knowing the content and background of the documents or their intended use, I will speak in general terms," and added, "It has exceeded the necessary level of information to understand judges and who they are."

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