'Trial No-Show' Kwon Kyung-ae: "Loss Is Not My Fault"... Bereaved Families' Outrage

Attorney Kwon Absent from Three Hearings, Plaintiff Loses
"No Apology Despite Trial Collapse," Bereaved Family Anger

Attorney Kwon Kyung-ae, who was disciplined over the controversy of a "trial no-show," has reportedly stated to the court that "I did not lose because of my fault." Kwon submitted a response and preparatory documents containing this position to the Seoul Central District Court Civil Division 85, presided over by Judge Noh Han-dong, in the wrongful death compensation lawsuit filed by the family of the late Park Joo-won in October last year and January this year.

"Acknowledging the violation of the right to a second trial, the first trial was conducted with utmost effort"

Attorney Kwon Kyung-ae. [Photo by Yonhap News]

According to the legal community on the 31st, the response submitted by Attorney Kwon to the court last October stated, "I acknowledge the facts that the plaintiff's (family's) right to a trial was violated due to the deemed withdrawal of the appeal and that the right to appeal was infringed by not notifying the second trial loss judgment," but also included that "I did my best in the first trial, such as requesting witnesses, and carried out my duties as a manager without violating the duty of care in handling the case."

It is reported that Kwon also attached a statement of circumstances submitted to the Korean Bar Association's investigation committee in May last year to the response. Regarding her absence from three hearings during the second trial, she claimed, "At that time, my condition was abnormal to the extent that I could not even handle simple tasks such as asking another lawyer to attend, as the client (family) requested to sue 50 people, including Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education complaint handlers, from 2012 to 2016," adding, "I explained this situation to the client and waited, hoping to recover to a manageable health condition, but only wasted time in vain."

"Trying to ensure the world does not forget Park's death..." Explanation

Lee Ki-cheol, a bereaved family member of a school violence victim who lost the lawsuit due to Attorney Kwon Kyung-ae's absence from the trial, is waiting for the disciplinary committee members on the afternoon of the 19th at the Korean Bar Association building in Seocho-gu, Seoul, where the disciplinary committee for Attorney Kwon is being held.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

She also offered an absurd explanation, saying, "I even thought, as if it were someone else's matter, 'Could it be that incomprehensible accidents and mistakes that cannot be accepted happened to me one after another so that the world would not forget Park's death and the client's grievance?'"

Furthermore, in the preparatory documents submitted to the court this month, she stated, "The bereaved family claims that the loss was due to negligence in proceeding with the trial, but although the defendant (Attorney Kwon) made a mistake leading to the deemed withdrawal of the appeal, the trial loss was not caused by the defendant's fault."

In response, Lee Ki-chul, the mother of school violence victim Park, expressed her outrage. After finishing the first hearing of the damages lawsuit against Attorney Kwon on the 30th, Lee said, "She neither admits fault nor offers a sincere apology," and pointed out, "She only admitted fault for not attending the trial, but after reviewing the trial records, the seven-year-long trial was ruined, including not requesting agreed witnesses." Attorney Kwon did not appear on that day.

Attorney's 'trial no-show'... Ultimately plaintiff loses

Known as a co-author of the "Cho Kuk Black Book," Attorney Kwon has represented Lee, the mother, in the school violence lawsuit since 2016, filing a damages suit against the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education superintendent and the parents of the perpetrators. She won partially in the first trial but failed to appear at all three second trial hearings. As a result, the partial plaintiff victory in the first trial was reversed to a loss, and the appeals against the other perpetrators were withdrawn. Moreover, she did not inform the family of the loss for five months even after the plaintiff's loss judgment was finalized, causing controversy. Attorney Kwon was disciplined with a one-year suspension by the Korean Bar Association in June last year for this case.

After it became known in April last year that the lawsuit was lost due to Attorney Kwon's absence, Lee filed a damages lawsuit seeking a total of 200 million won, including 100 million won in consolation damages, against Attorney Kwon and her affiliated law firms. The court is scheduled to hold the next hearing on March 26.

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