Former Supreme Court Justice Kwon Soon-il, who was charged with violating attorney laws by serving as an advisor to Hwacheon Daeyu Asset Management without proper registration, is set to face an appeals court after a lower court dismissed the charges against him.
On June 18, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office submitted an appeal to the Seoul Central District Court regarding the dismissal of charges against Kwon.
On June 11, Judge Kim Dae-kyu of the Seoul Central District Court dismissed the case against Kwon, citing that the prosecution had unlawfully initiated and conducted the investigation beyond the defined scope. A dismissal means that the court ends the case without determining guilt or innocence due to violations in the prosecution's process or procedures.
The court also found that the prosecution's transfer of the case to the Gyeonggi Southern Police Agency in January 2022, and its subsequent retrieval in September 2023, was procedurally flawed. The court ruled that the police had primary authority to conclude the investigation but did not exercise it, while the prosecution improperly encouraged the transfer back to them.
Kwon served as an advisor to Hwacheon Daeyu from January to August 2021 without registering as an attorney with the Korean Bar Association. During this period, he received a total of 150 million won in advisory fees from the company. He was indicted by prosecutors in August 2024 for allegedly performing legal duties, including drafting legal documents, while serving in this role.
With the prosecution's appeal against the first trial ruling, the upcoming appellate court proceedings are expected to focus on the legality of the prosecution's investigative authority and the transfer procedures, rather than the merits of Kwon's alleged misconduct.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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