Prosecution Dismisses Charges Against Current and Former Judges for Skipping Parliamentary Audit After Drinking Incident

"Case Dismissed as Summons Deadline Missed"

The prosecution has decided not to indict the chief judges who caused a public stir by drinking and causing a disturbance during work hours and were later reported for failing to appear at the National Assembly's parliamentary audit.

Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang

According to the legal community on April 21, the Criminal Division 7 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Cho Yuncheol) dismissed the case against former Chief Judge Oh and Chief Judge Kang, who were accused of violating the Act on Testimony and Appraisal before the National Assembly.

They were summoned as witnesses by the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee last year after allegations surfaced that they drank alcohol and caused a disturbance during work hours. However, they did not appear. Even after the committee issued a warrant for compulsory attendance, they refused to attend, so the committee reported them to the prosecution for violating the Act on Testimony and Appraisal before the National Assembly.

However, the prosecution concluded that the Legislation and Judiciary Committee failed to deliver the summons to appear at the parliamentary audit at least seven days prior to the scheduled appearance, as required, and therefore closed the case without a substantive review.

They are suspected of drinking alcohol and going to a karaoke bar during work hours, causing a disturbance while serving at the Jeju District Court in June 2024.

In addition, former Chief Judge Oh is reportedly under investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of the exercise of rights, as he handed down a verdict immediately in a panel trial in March last year without following the proper deliberation procedures with other judges. At the end of last month, the Supreme Court accepted the resignation letter submitted by former Chief Judge Oh.

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