Judge Shin Jong-oh found dead near Seoul High Court
Updated
Updated · South China Morning Post · May 6
Judge Shin Jong-oh found dead near Seoul High Court
11 articles · Updated · South China Morning Post · May 6
Police said the 55-year-old was discovered in a flower bed in Seoul's Seocho district with severe injuries and pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
Investigators suspect he fell from the court building and said a note in his pocket included apologies and words indicating he chose to leave.
The note did not mention his judicial work or Kim Keon-hee, whom he had sentenced on 28 April to four years in prison and a 50 million won fine.
A judge dies after sentencing the ex-first lady. Was it a tragic coincidence or a justice system at its breaking point?
With a jailed ex-president and a corrupt church, is South Korea's entire political and judicial establishment now on trial?
Judge Shin Jong-oh’s Death Highlights Judicial Pressure After Reversing Kim Keon-hee’s Acquittal
Overview
Judge Shin Jong-oh died on May 6, 2026, from injuries consistent with a fatal fall, with police concluding suicide based on a handwritten note found in his pocket. Just days earlier, on April 28, 2026, Shin had delivered a landmark ruling convicting Kim Keon-hee, wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, on all charges, imposing a harsh sentence that sparked intense public and political scrutiny. Although the suicide note made no mention of his judicial duties, authorities are investigating possible indirect links between his death and the pressures from this high-profile case. Shin's death shocked the legal community and led to calls for judicial reforms addressing political interference and systemic strains.