Indictment Dismissed in First Trial for Former Supreme Court Justice Soonil Kwon on Attorney-at-Law Act Violation

"Prosecution Conducted Investigation Beyond Its Authority and in Violation of the Law"

The indictment against former Supreme Court Justice Soonil Kwon, who provided legal services for Hwacheon Daeyu Asset Management (Hwacheon Daeyu) without registering as an attorney, has been dismissed.

Former Supreme Court Justice Soonil Kwon. / Gwacheon — Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

On June 11, the Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 21 Single Judge (Presiding Judge Kim Daegyu) dismissed the indictment against former Justice Kwon, who was charged with violating the Attorney-at-Law Act, stating, "This falls under a case where the indictment procedure violated the law and is therefore invalid."

The court stated, "Since the judicial police did not properly initiate an investigation or exercise their right to make a first-stage conclusion, and the prosecutor then initiated an investigation into the alleged violation of the Attorney-at-Law Act as specified in this case, it appears that an unlawful investigation was continuously conducted."

Previously, during the final hearing, the prosecution had requested a sentence of one year in prison for former Justice Kwon, citing several factors: he allegedly agreed to receive compensation for his services and actually received 150 million won, and he denied the charges and showed no remorse. According to the Attorney-at-Law Act, even if a person is qualified as an attorney, they cannot act as a legal representative, provide legal consultations, or receive compensation unless they are registered.

Former Justice Kwon was brought to trial on charges of engaging in legal activities—including analyzing the trial status of related administrative lawsuits, drafting legal documents, and providing legal strategies—while serving as an advisor to Hwacheon Daeyu, whose major shareholder was Daejang-dong developer Kim Manbae, from January to August 2021 after his retirement, without registering as an attorney with the Korean Bar Association.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.