Former Deputy Minister of Justice Lee Yong-gu, Accused of Assaulting Taxi Driver, Faces Disciplinary Action by Bar Association

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[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Former Deputy Minister of Justice Lee Yong-gu, who was indicted on charges of assaulting a taxi driver, is undergoing disciplinary procedures by the Korean Bar Association.

The Lawyers for Human Rights and Unification of Korea (Hanbyun) announced on the 15th, "The Seoul Bar Association has notified us that it has applied to the Korean Bar Association to initiate disciplinary action against former Deputy Minister Lee."

The Attorney-at-Law Act allows local bar associations to request the president of the Korean Bar Association to initiate disciplinary procedures if they find grounds for disciplining a member lawyer.

Upon receiving such a request from a local bar association, the president of the Korean Bar Association must decide whether to request the Disciplinary Committee to initiate disciplinary action. If disciplinary action is requested, the Disciplinary Committee determines whether to discipline and the level of discipline.

The Seoul Bar Association's Investigation Committee explained, "The subject of the investigation (former Deputy Minister Lee) vaguely remembers having an argument with the taxi driver while intoxicated but does not recall any other details and requested to postpone the investigation until after the prosecution's reinvestigation is concluded."

They added, "The indictment against the subject was filed last September 9, and although we requested a statement from the subject afterward, no response was received. While a guilty verdict has not been rendered, it was resolved to apply for disciplinary action as the subject's conduct violated the duty to maintain dignity."

Former Deputy Minister Lee was brought to trial last September on charges of assaulting a taxi driver by grabbing and pushing the driver's neck while intoxicated on November 6 of last year, as well as on charges of instructing the deletion of a black box video (obstruction of evidence) while working as a lawyer.

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