South Korean judge who hiked ex-first lady's jail sentence found dead
The Japan Times • • world
Key Points:
- South Korean judge Shin Jong-o, who recently increased former first lady Kim Keon Hee's prison sentence from 20 months to four years, was found dead at the Seoul High Court building.
- Shin was discovered unconscious around 1:00 a.m., taken to hospital, and pronounced dead, with no signs of foul play reported by police.
- Despite local media reports, police confirmed there was no suicide note found at the scene.
- Shin had presided over Kim's appeal trial last month, overturning her acquittal on stock manipulation and criticizing her lack of accountability.
- The judge's family is deeply affected by the incident and has requested privacy, according to police statements.
