Former Supreme Court Justice Acquitted in Legal Consultation Case
Seoul Central District Court Judge Kim Daegyu acquitted former Supreme Court Justice Kwon Soon-il of violating the Attorney’s Act, ruling that prosecutors lacked authority to initiate the investigation, according to court documents obtained by Yonhap News on October 11, 2023.
Court Ruling on Prosecution Authority
The court determined that the case fell outside the scope of the Prosecutors Act, which limits prosecutorial investigation powers. “The crime in question does not fall under the jurisdiction of the prosecution,” the judge stated, citing Article 4(1) of the Prosecutors Act. This decision marks the first time the court has applied the 2021 legal reform to a high-profile case involving a former judiciary official.
Details of the Legal Charges
Kwon, who retired as a Supreme Court justice in 2020, allegedly provided legal advice to Hwacheondaeu, a real estate company embroiled in a controversial land transaction scandal, without being licensed as an attorney. The company reportedly paid him 15 million won (approximately $12,000) as a consultant fee, according to the prosecution’s indictment. The Seoul Central Prosecutors Office had sought a one-year prison sentence for Kwon, but the court dismissed the case due to procedural flaws.
Context of Hwacheondaeu’s Involvement
Hwacheondaeu, a firm linked to the 2021 Seoul housing market scandal, faced regulatory scrutiny for its role in a land price manipulation scheme. The company’s legal troubles have drawn public attention to the intersection of corporate governance and judicial ethics in South Korea. Kwon’s case highlights ongoing debates about the boundaries of legal consultation by non-attorneys, a issue that has gained prominence since the 2021 legal reforms.