South Korean Appeals Judge in Kim Keon Hee Case Was Found Dead in Seoul

2026-05-06 08:15:39

(MENAFN) A South Korean judge involved in the appeals case of former first lady Kim Keon Hee on corruption charges was discovered dead early Wednesday outside a court building in Seoul, according to reports.

Authorities said the body of Shin Jong-o was found in a flower bed within the Seoul High Court compound at around 1 a.m., after a report had been filed roughly an hour earlier.

Police indicated that a note believed to be a suicide message was recovered from his pocket, reportedly containing an apology but making no reference to the ongoing case.

Investigators said there are no immediate signs of foul play, though inquiries are ongoing to determine the precise circumstances of his death, with the possibility that he fell from a height being considered.

The development follows a ruling last month in which the court extended Kim’s sentence from 20 months to four years over allegations tied to a stock manipulation scheme and the acceptance of luxury gifts from the Unification Church.

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