Director General Ji Gwi-yeon of the Seoul Central District Court, who is overseeing the trial involving former President Yoon Seok-yeol's charges of insurrection, reportedly submitted a statement to the Supreme Court regarding the Democratic Party of Korea's allegations of room salon entertainment, stating, "It was not entertainment, but a gathering of friends."
According to the legal community on the 23rd, Director General Ji submitted documents and evidence outlining his position regarding the allegations raised by the Democratic Party of Korea to the Supreme Court's Office of Ethics on the previous day.
Director General Ji previously made the decision to revoke the detention of former President Yoon in March, resulting in his release.
Subsequently, Kim Yong-min, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, claimed during an entire committee meeting of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the 14th, "I received detailed reports that Director General Ji drank several times at room salons costing about 1 million to 2 million won per person, and never paid any money." Fellow party member Kim Gi-pyo also revealed two photos, stating they were taken at a bar in Gangnam, Seoul, in August of last year.
The Supreme Court stated on the 16th, "We are verifying the facts based on National Assembly materials and media reports since the allegations were raised against the judge." Director General Ji denied the allegations on the 19th before the trial of former President Yoon, stating, "The allegations are not true. I usually just drink soju with samgyeopsal, and nobody pays for me."
In response, the Democratic Party of Korea disclosed a photo of Director General Ji sitting side by side with two individuals.
Director General Ji reportedly submitted a statement explaining that the photo was taken in the summer of 2023 with two junior legal professionals. He also clarified that after paying for his meal, he moved to a bar to take the photo, but did not engage in drinking, explaining that they took the photo and left.
However, Director General Ji and the Supreme Court have not made any official statements regarding the allegations raised by the Democratic Party of Korea.