South Korean Supreme Court Removed and eventually Took Disciplinary Action against Judge Sung Chang-ho, who ‘confined Kim Kyoung-soo,’ Moon Jae-in’s Close Associate

2019-5-9, Chosun Ilbo

Judge Sung Chang-ho (성창호) was in charge of the first trial of Kim Kyoung-su (김경수), the governor of South Gyeongsang Province [who also worked on then-candidate Moon Jae-in’s  presidential campaign as a top ally; Kim was accused of conspiring with Druking to influence public opinion by massive digital manipulation using software to manipulate people’s opinions in chatrooms and message boards, and to automatically generate millions of “likes” in order to generate popularity for Moon Jae-in leading up to the presidential election two years ago].

Judge Sung Chang-ho found Kim Kyoung-soo guilty and remanded him to prison.  [Kim Kyoung-soo has subsequently been freed on bail, unlike many others whose bail requests have been rejected.]  It was revealed that on May 9, 2019, the Supreme Court demanded disciplinary action against 10 incumbent judges related to alleged abuse of judicial authority, and Sung was included in the 10.  Sung was charged with allegedly leaking confidential investigation information while serving as chief judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court at the time of ‘Jeong Woon-ho Gate’ in 2016. [truncated]

Some argue that it is inappropriate to refer judges, [still] under trial [for alleged crimes], to the disciplinary authority.  A judge at the Seoul High Court said, “the court is supposed to determine whether the accused are guilty or not guilty, and a judge is dismissed when he/she [is found guilty and] receives a sentence of imprisonment or more…the disciplinary actions against these judges who are charged could have waited until after the conclusion of the criminal case.”  [Editor’s comment: The judge seems very careful in his expressions. Perhaps he is trying to say let the judicial process take its course, rather than injecting a disciplinary process for the same charges even before the trial ends. The trial is still ongoing, and they should see how the trial turns out–guilty or not guilty for the judges who are charged.  If found guilty and the sentencing is severe enough, such as a jail sentence, then they are punished anyway with a dismissal. If not guilty, then why should they be disciplined?] [truncated]

Source:  http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2019/05/09/2019050902829.html

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Readers’ comments on the article are in this link and translated below:  http://m100.chosun.com/svc/guest/m/mlist.new.html?article=2019050902829&viewContent=T

• Pre-testing the Gongsoocheo [an investigative body targeting only senior officials, which was agreed to via “fast track” by the ruling Deobureo Minjoo Party and 3 minor parties, while excluding the main opposition party, Liberal Korea Party] Law
• The high court is more like a kangaroo court
• Already, Moon Jae-in is clearly showing judges, through Kim Myeong-soo (김명수) [the Supreme Court Chief Justice whom Moon appointed after removing the previous Supreme Court Chief Justice Yang Seung-tae for “abuse of authority”] that if they don’t do as they are told, they will be eliminated through disciplinary actions.
• Judges speak through rulings.  If they don’t like the ruling and discipline the judges who made the rulings at the behest of one side, then the separation of power is already gone.  This country is already not a democracy. If it is a democracy, then the judiciary independence must be guaranteed. If the judge will be disciplined based on how one judges, then what judge will make a sound ruling, instead of looking over his/her shoulders?
• It’s horrible.  The timing is suspect.  They’re disciplining him because he found Kim Kyoung-soo guilty.  When Sung gave severe sentencing to Park Geun-hye, they didn’t say anything, but when he gave sentencing, an incredibly light one at that, to Kim Kyoung-soo, they are punishing Sung.  This can’t be. The law has to be equally applied to all.