Former Korean First Lady Bribery Case: Appellate Judge Found Dead at Courthouse with Suicide Note
A South Korean High Court judge, who recently increased the sentence for the former First Lady's bribery case, was found dead at the courthouse. A suicide note was found, reportedly without mentioning the trial, sparking widespread speculation.
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- 📰 Published: May 6, 2026 at 14:17
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Yang Chi-fang, Seoul, 6th) South Korean High Court Judge Shin Jong-oh was found dead in an outdoor flowerbed at the courthouse early this morning. He had only last month delivered an appellate verdict in the bribery case involving former First Lady Kim Keon-hee, increasing her sentence from the original 1 year 8 months to 4 years, leading to many rumors circulating online; Korean media reported that a suicide note was left at the scene, but it did not mention the content of the trial.
According to Yonhap News Agency, police received a report yesterday at midnight and found the 55-year-old Judge Shin Jong-oh in an outdoor flowerbed on the low-rise rooftop of the Seoul High Court building around 1 AM today, subsequently sending him to the hospital.
The report indicated that a brief suicide note was found at the scene. The handwritten note, discovered in his clothing pocket, contained phrases like "I'm sorry," but reportedly did not mention trial-related content. Police stated that they would not disclose the contents of the suicide note as a matter of principle.
Police stated that they believe Shin Jong-oh's death is not related to crime and are currently handling it as a general non-natural death case, while also investigating the exact circumstances of his fall.
Kim Keon-hee, the wife of former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, was implicated in violating the "Capital Market Act," "Political Funds Act," and the "Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes" for mediation bribery. In the second trial on April 28, her sentence was aggravated to 4 years of imprisonment. Shin Jong-oh was the presiding judge of Criminal Division 15-2 that issued the verdict. Criminal Division 15 is composed of three High Court judges with similar seniority.
Shin Jong-oh began his judicial career in 2001 at the Uijeongbu Branch of the Seoul District Court, serving successively as a judge at the Seoul District Court, Seoul High Court, Supreme Court Judicial Research Officer, and Daegu High Court. After the news of Shin Jong-oh's death broke, many unverified speculative comments also appeared on social media. (Edited by Chen Hui-ping) 1150506
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(Central News Agency reporter Yang Chi-fang, Seoul, 6th) South Korean High Court Judge Shin Jong-oh was found dead in an outdoor flowerbed at the courthouse early this morning. He had only last month delivered an appellate verdict in the bribery case involving former First Lady Kim Keon-hee, increasing her sentence from the original 1 year 8 months to 4 years, leading to many rumors circulating online; Korean media reported that a suicide note was left at the scene, but it did not mention the content of the trial.
According to Yonhap News Agency, police received a report yesterday at midnight and found the 55-year-old Judge Shin Jong-oh in an outdoor flowerbed on the low-rise rooftop of the Seoul High Court building around 1 AM today, subsequently sending him to the hospital.
The report indicated that a brief suicide note was found at the scene. The handwritten note, discovered in his clothing pocket, contained phrases like "I'm sorry," but reportedly did not mention trial-related content. Police stated that they would not disclose the contents of the suicide note as a matter of principle.
Police stated that they believe Shin Jong-oh's death is not related to crime and are currently handling it as a general non-natural death case, while also investigating the exact circumstances of his fall.
Kim Keon-hee, the wife of former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, was implicated in violating the "Capital Market Act," "Political Funds Act," and the "Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes" for mediation bribery. In the second trial on April 28, her sentence was aggravated to 4 years of imprisonment. Shin Jong-oh was the presiding judge of Criminal Division 15-2 that issued the verdict. Criminal Division 15 is composed of three High Court judges with similar seniority.
Shin Jong-oh began his judicial career in 2001 at the Uijeongbu Branch of the Seoul District Court, serving successively as a judge at the Seoul District Court, Seoul High Court, Supreme Court Judicial Research Officer, and Daegu High Court. After the news of Shin Jong-oh's death broke, many unverified speculative comments also appeared on social media. (Edited by Chen Hui-ping) 1150506
Stand with facts, every sponsorship is a force to protect press freedom.
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The text, images, and audio-visual content on this website may not be reproduced, broadcast, transmitted, or utilized without authorization.