"Even When Caught for Prostitution, They Join Major Law Firms... This Is the Judicial Cartel," Park Yong-jin's Sharp Critique

"Judge Sexual Crimes Receive Lighter Punishments Than Other Public Officials
“They Join Large Law Firms and Earn High Salaries”"

Recently, a sitting judge was caught engaging in prostitution during a business trip and is facing disciplinary action. Meanwhile, controversy has arisen as judges previously involved in sexual misconduct scandals are reportedly securing high-paying jobs at major law firms after retirement.

On the 2nd, Park Yong-jin, a member of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, stated on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' regarding the punishment of judges involved in sexual misconduct, "Ordinary public officials or regular employees usually face disgrace such as being fired, but I think this person will probably go to the largest and most prestigious law firm in South Korea."

Recently, a sitting judge was caught engaging in prostitution during a business trip and is facing disciplinary action. Meanwhile, controversy has arisen as judges who were involved in sexual misconduct scandals in the past are reportedly being hired by major law firms after retirement, receiving high salaries.
[Photo by Seodongmin, Asia Economy]

Park then criticized past cases of judges involved in sexual crimes. The case he mentioned involved Chief Judge A, who was caught by police in August 2016 while soliciting prostitution at an officetel in Gangnam, Seoul. The judge received only a three-month pay reduction from the Judicial Disciplinary Committee. The prosecution, considering it a first offense and that disciplinary action had already been taken, acknowledged the sexual crime charges but decided not to prosecute, issuing a non-prosecution disposition.

According to Park, in early 2017, the Supreme Court accepted Chief Judge A's resignation, leading to his retirement. In February of the same year, he applied for lawyer registration with the Seoul Bar Association, which initially recommended withdrawal, and he complied. However, in May, the Seoul Bar Association accepted his reapplication for lawyer registration, citing that he had undergone a period of self-restraint following the three-month pay reduction disciplinary action from the court.

After registering as a lawyer, Chief Judge A was employed by a major law firm and is currently known to receive a high salary.

Judicial Disciplinary Act Only Specifies Three Types of Sanctions: Suspension, Pay Reduction, and Reprimand

The current Judicial Disciplinary Act stipulates only three types of disciplinary actions?suspension, salary reduction, and reprimand?when a judge engages in conduct that damages dignity or violates social norms.
[Photo by Kim Dahee]

Park strongly pointed out the problems with the current Judicial Disciplinary Act. The act only stipulates three types of sanctions?suspension, pay reduction, and reprimand?when a judge commits acts that damage dignity or violate social norms.

This contrasts with other public officials who can face severe disciplinary actions such as dismissal or removal for negligence or damage to dignity.

Most importantly, the level of punishment for judges who commit sexual crimes is low. When a judge commits a sexual crime, the prosecution usually requests only a fine or issues a non-prosecution disposition, citing first offense and prior disciplinary action by the court.

As a result, even judges involved in sexual crimes can retain their positions as long as they do not receive a prison sentence or higher.

The Korean Bar Association also effectively allows judges with sexual crime records to register as lawyers without restrictions. These registered lawyers with sexual crime histories are recruited by major law firms as former judicial officials and receive large salaries.

Park mentioned not only Chief Judge A but also Judge B as examples. In July 2017, Judge B was caught secretly filming a part of a woman's body with a mobile phone inside a subway station in Seoul. The court only imposed a four-month pay reduction on Judge B. The prosecution filed a summary indictment, and Judge B was fined 3 million won.

Judge B also avoided dismissal because he was not sentenced to imprisonment or higher. After leaving the court in 2018, Judge B joined a major law firm as a lawyer in 2020.

Regarding the repeated light disciplinary actions for judges' sexual crimes and their employment at law firms, Park said, "Isn't this really a 'judicial cartel' and a 'vested interest cartel'?" He emphasized the need to amend the Judicial Disciplinary Act.

He added, "We need to change the current structure of lenient punishments," and stressed, "It is appropriate to amend the Judicial Disciplinary Act to include provisions for dismissal." Furthermore, Park criticized the Bar Association, saying, "The Bar Association, which approves lawyer registration without any problem, is also problematic," and emphasized, "The structure that allows people who have committed such immoral and antisocial crimes to live comfortably like this must change."

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