George Oh, Chief of Police. /Photo by Lee Ki-bum
The Supreme Court expressed concerns on the 13th regarding media reports that claim the first trial judge who acquitted Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, was on a list for arrest during the December 3 martial law crisis.
In a statement released that day, the Supreme Court said, “There were reports indicating that a current judge, who presided over a specific trial involving an opposition party leader and delivered a not guilty verdict, was also marked for arrest.” They added, “If this report is true, it represents a direct and serious encroachment on judicial authority, and we express grave concern.”
The Supreme Court further stated, “Such events should never occur in a constitutional state,” emphasizing the need for “swift fact-finding and strict legal responsibility.”
The “current judge” refers to Judge Kim Dong-hyun of the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 33. Judge Kim acquitted Lee, who faced charges of perjury coaching, on the 25th of last month.
The JoongAng Ilbo reported that the National Investigation Headquarters special investigative team, in the process of investigating Chief George Oh (pictured), secured testimony suggesting that, right after the declaration of martial law, they received a request from the Army Intelligence Command to track the whereabouts of about 15 individuals, including Judge Kim, who acquitted Lee.