The High-ranking Officials Crime Investigation Office (SPO) has recently summoned a chief judge from Jeonju District Court, identified as Mr. G, for questioning concerning allegations of receiving cash and gifts potentially worth millions of Korean won from a local lawyer, Mr. N. This investigation intensifies after the police previously referred the case to the SPO, underscoring the gravity of the bribery allegations involving a senior judiciary official. The SPO has indicated that this inquiry is part of their broader mandate to investigate corruption within high-ranking public officials.

In the latest developments, the SPO’s investigation division has confirmed that Mr. G has been called in for questioning as a suspect in bribery on multiple occasions, specifically on the 6th and the 11th of this month. Initial allegations suggested that Mr. G received around 3.7 million won worth of gifts including cash, a gold ring for his son, and luxury perfumes. However, the SPO is investigating further, believing the scale of bribery may reach into tens of millions of won. A controversial aspect of the case includes claims that Mr. G's spouse used property owned by Mr. N's company without paying rent, thereby strengthening the argument for financial impropriety.

Previously, the Jeonbuk police filed a complaint last April against both Mr. G and lawyer Mr. N for offenses related to bribery and violation of anti-corruption laws, stating that the financial exchanges were connected to Mr. N’s legal dealings within the court. Acknowledging the jurisdictional implications, the police handed the case over to the SPO last May for them to conduct a thorough investigation. The SPO's action of executing a search and seizure on court premises is notable, representing their first-ever instance of such action against a sitting judge, which highlights the ongoing efforts to clamp down on corruption within South Korea's judicial system.