Why was Judge Jee Kui-youn indicted over a bar visit in Seoul?

He was charged with violating the anti-graft law after investigators said he received services worth 4.09 million won at a bar in Cheongdam in August 2023. The CIO said two lawyers paid the bill for him.

What did the CIO say about bribery charges against Judge Jee Kui-youn?

The CIO looked into whether the bar services were provided in exchange for trial favors, but it chose not to press bribery charges. It said the court bench Jee belonged to did not handle the lawyers’ cases at the time.

How is Judge Jee Kui-youn connected to Yoon Suk Yeol’s life sentence case?

Jee drew wide attention in May 2025 because he was the presiding judge in Yoon’s insurrection trial over the failed 2024 martial law bid. In February, the court sentenced Yoon to life imprisonment, and the case is now under review at an appeals court.

Judge who handed Yoon life sentence indicted for corruption

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Summary

Anti-corruption investigators on Friday indicted Judge Jee Kui-youn in Seoul over allegations that he was entertained at an expensive bar in 2023. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials said he violated the anti-graft law by making two lawyers pay for services worth 4.09 million won at a bar in Cheongdam in August 2023. The CIO did not pursue bribery charges, and it also dropped a separate 2024 bar-visit case that did not meet the law’s threshold.

Key Facts

The CIO said Jee allegedly made two lawyers pay 4.09 million won for bar services in Cheongdam in August 2023.
Under the anti-graft law, public officials can be punished for receiving gifts or services worth more than 1 million won per instance regardless of job connection.
The CIO identified another bar visit in September 2024 involving services worth 4.16 million won for five people, but it decided not to pursue that case because the amount did not meet the threshold.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 4, 2026 10:45 am KST
Updated Sep 4, 2026 10:46 am KST

Anti-corruption investigators on Friday indicted a judge, known for sentencing former President Yoon Suk Yeol to life in prison, over allegations he was entertained at an expensive bar in 2023.

Judge Jee Kui-youn faces charges of violating the anti-graft law for allegedly making two lawyers pay for services worth 4.09 million won ($3,000) at a bar in Seoul's posh neighborhood of Cheongdam in August 2023, according to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO).

Under the anti-graft law, public officials are subject to being punished for receiving gifts or services exceeding 1 million won per instance regardless of any connection to their duties.

The CIO said it investigated whether the services were provided in exchange for trial favors, but decided not to press bribery charges after determining the court bench that Jee belonged to did not handle the lawyers' cases at the time.

It also identified another instance when Jee was treated at the same bar in September 2024, but decided not to pursue the case as the services worth 4.16 million won for five people at the time did not meet the anti-graft law threshold.

The case received widespread attention when the allegations surfaced in May 2025 as Jee served as the presiding judge of Yoon's insurrection trial over his failed 2024 martial law bid.

In February, the court sentenced Yoon to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of leading an insurrection through his martial law declaration. The case is currently under review at an appeals court.

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