Judge who acquitted Myung Tae-gyun suspended 3 months over golf trips funded by acquaintance under trial

A senior judge has been suspended after accepting travel expenses from an acquaintance who was standing trial and accompanying that person on multiple overseas trips.

The Supreme Court on Aug. 13 handed down a three-month suspension and a disciplinary surcharge of 3.47 million won ($2,510) to a senior judge surnamed Kim at the Suwon District Court, according to the official gazette as reported by Kookmin Ilbo on Monday.

The disciplinary action cited Kim's acceptance of airline tickets and accommodation worth roughly 3.47 million won from a team leader, identified only as A, at HDC Shilla Duty Free — an acquaintance who was facing trial at the time. Kim also drew scrutiny for maintaining an improper personal relationship with A, joining the team leader on six overseas trips between July 2023 and May 2025 despite knowing A was under judicial proceedings.

The Supreme Court found that Kim's conduct damaged the dignity expected of a judge and undermined the court's standing.

Kim and the team leader were summarily indicted in February on charges of violating the anti-graft law and received summary orders imposing fines of 5 million won and 3 million won, respectively.

Kim subsequently requested a formal trial and is set to face the first hearing in November.

Kim had previously served at the Changwon District Court, where he acquitted political broker Myung Tae-gyun and former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Young-sun of political funds law violations in a first-instance ruling in February. He did, however, find Myung guilty of instructing the concealment of evidence, sentencing him to six months in prison, suspended for one year.