attorney Kyoung-ae Kwon faces a fraud complaint filed by Lee Ki-chul, the mother of a deceased school bullying victim, according to a Yonhap News report published on November 14. The legal action, submitted to the Seocho Police Station in Seoul, accuses Kwon of intentionally missing court dates and concealing missed deadlines, which ultimately led to the dismissal of the family’s civil lawsuit.
Civil Lawsuit Dismissal and Missed Court Appearances
The dispute stems from a civil suit initiated by the victim’s family following the 2015 death of Park Joo-won, a student who suffered severe school bullying. In 2016, the family hired Kwon as their legal representative to file damages claims against the perpetrators, the school foundation, and the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Although the family won a partial victory in the first trial, the case collapsed during the appeal phase. According to Yonhap News, Kwon failed to attend three hearings between September and November 2022, resulting in the appeal being treated as withdrawn under South Korean civil procedure.
Fraud Allegations and Concealment of Legal Deadlines
The criminal complaint alleges that Kwon committed fraud by intentionally skipping court dates after errors in the initial filing came to light. The family asserts that Kwon omitted damages specific to the victim and potential future earnings from the original claim, requesting only solatium for the parents. Furthermore, the complaint states that Kwon concealed a three-year statutory limitation period expiration caused by her own legal oversights, continuing to represent the family into the appellate stage to collect legal fees.
Constitutional Challenge to Appeal Dismissal Rules
Alongside the criminal complaint filed at the Seocho Police Station, the bereaved family has pursued separate legal remedies regarding the mechanics of the court dismissal. According to Yonhap News, the family filed an application for a constitutional review with the Supreme Court, arguing that extinguishing a litigant’s right to trial solely due to a lawyer’s failure to attend court hearings is unconstitutional.