Sitting Presiding Judge Received 33 Million Won in Bribes from Alumnus Attorney in Connection with Trials

by Choi Taewon

Published 06 May.2026 10:36(KST)

Over 190 Private Calls Exchanged for Court Trial Deals

The High-ranking Public Officials Crime Investigation Office has indicted, without detention, a sitting presiding judge, referred to as Mr. A, and an attorney, referred to as Mr. B, on charges of exchanging bribes worth tens of millions of won in connection with court trials.

High-ranking Public Officials Crime Investigation Agency, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

According to the investigation results announced on May 6 by the Second Investigation Division (headed by Prosecutor Kim Suhwan) of the High-ranking Public Officials Crime Investigation Office, Mr. A, a presiding judge at a district court, received bribes totaling 33,929,940 won from his high school alumnus, Mr. B, between May 2023 and September 2024.

It was found that, in return for the bribes, Mr. A reduced sentences in 17 out of 21 cases involving Mr. B. He also imposed fines or suspended sentences in significant criminal cases, such as repeat DUI offenders and operators of gambling websites involving amounts in the 2 billion won range. The High-ranking Public Officials Crime Investigation Office stated that such actions were improper, as they violated the nature of appellate trials and Supreme Court sentencing principles.

The investigation revealed that the two communicated privately over 190 times during the two-year period, with contact intensifying around key points in the trials, such as the dates on which verdicts were delivered. The case was first reported to the Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency in April last year, but considering the seriousness of the matter, the High-ranking Public Officials Crime Investigation Office exercised its right to request transfer in May of the same year and has since conducted a direct investigation.

An official from the High-ranking Public Officials Crime Investigation Office stated, "This is an unusual case in which a sitting presiding judge was found to have received bribes from a defense attorney in connection with ongoing court trials, leading to an indictment. We will continue to respond strictly to corruption crimes related to judicial procedures and strive to establish fair and transparent judicial processes."