In a sudden and tragic turn of events, a high-ranking member of the South Korean judiciary has been found dead in the heart of Seoul. Judge Shin Jong-oh, 55, who presided over the high-profile appeals trial of former first lady Kim Keon-hee, was discovered early Wednesday morning.
According to reports from the Yonhap News Agency, police received a notification around midnight, leading them to discover Judge Shin at approximately 1 a.m. local time. The judge was found in a flower bed situated near the Seoul High Court building.
Investigators recovered a suicide note from the clothing Judge Shin was wearing at the time. The brief message reportedly read, "I'm sorry. I'm leaving on my own." Crucially, the note contained no mentions of the former first lady or the corruption charges involved in the ongoing appeals trial.
While the death of a judge involved in such a sensitive legal proceeding naturally draws significant public attention, local media reports indicate that police do not currently suspect foul play. Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the exact cause of death.
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South Korean judge of former first lady's appeals trial found dead
cgtn.com
