South Korea is mourning the sudden death of Judge Shin Jong-o, who was found dead early Wednesday at the Seoul High Court building, according to police.
Authorities said the judge was discovered unconscious at around 1:00 am and was quickly taken to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Police stated that there were no signs of foul play and asked the public to respect the privacy of his grieving family during this difficult time.
Judge Shin had recently been in the spotlight after handling the appeal case involving former first lady Kim Keon Hee.
Last month, he delivered a major ruling that increased her prison sentence from 20 months to four years after finding her guilty of stock manipulation and bribery.
The case had drawn strong public attention because Kim, 53, is a well-known political figure and the wife of former president Yoon Suk Yeol. Her earlier acquittal on the stock manipulation charge by a lower court had been overturned during the appeal, leading to the tougher punishment.
While delivering the ruling, Judge Shin said Kim had not accepted responsibility for her actions. He stated that she had failed to acknowledge her wrongdoing and had continued to offer excuses instead of showing accountability.
His judgment was widely discussed in political and legal circles, with many seeing it as one of the most significant rulings involving a former first lady in recent years.
Local media reports suggested that a note had been found, but police said there was no such note and did not provide further details about the circumstances of his death.
The sudden passing of Judge Shin has shocked many in South Korea’s legal community, especially given the high-profile nature of the case he had recently handled.
Police said the family is deeply affected by the loss and requested privacy as they deal with the tragedy.
Further official details have not yet been released.
