Presiding Judge Shin Jong-Oh Kills Self Due to Agony over Sentencing Ex-First Lady

5-Term Rep. Na Kyung-Won Blasts DP for Pressrure

5-term Rep. Na Kyung-Won

Senior Judge Shin Jong-Oh who sentenced former First Lady Kim Keon-Hee jumped to death from the roof of the court building on the early morning May 6, 2026. He left a note saying “”Sorry! I am leaving on my own.” He was the presiding judge of the Seoul High Court.

Around 1 a.m. his body was discovered on a flower bed on the fifth floor of the Seoul High Court Building in Seocho-dong. Her daughter was unable to contact him and she reported to the police. He was declared dead after being taken to the hospital. Judge Shin was 55 years old. 

According to Yonhap News Agency, “Police do not suspect foul play but are investigating the exact cause of his death, giving weight to the possibility he was pressed from the current regime for the sentencing.

Meanwhile, his suicide note did not reveal any details on the trial regarding former First Lady Kim. Legal experts are expressing grave concerns that reign of terror is coming.

“This is the society of terror” killing and judges and prosecutors, Rep. Na Kyung-Won roared. “They are under heavy pressure from this regime.” The five-term lawmaker is the de-factor leader of the now opposition conservative PPP (People Power Party. She used to be a judge herself.

Judge Shin had extended her 20 month prison sentence to four years and imposed a fine of ₩50,000,000 for stock price manipulation with Deutsch Motors and accepting gifts from the Unification Church.

In connection with the stock manipulation case with Deutsch Motor, former First Lady Kim was found partially guilty of violating the Capital Markets Act. In addition, under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment she was also found guilty of all counts of influence-peddling. 

“It also ordered the confiscation of a Graff necklace worth 62.2 million won and an additional forfeiture of 20.94 million won,” The Straits Times reports. 

Judge Shin began his judicial career in 2011 at the Uijeongbu branch of the Seoul District Court. In addition, he was chosen as the outstanding judge by lawyers. His father was a chief prosecutor of the Daejeon District Prosecutor`s Office.

Furthermore, it left the judiciary shocked with some blaming the intense workload of dealing with high profile trials that possibly had compounded his stress. 

Judge Shin Jong-Oh is survived by his wife and daughter.

Now South Korean media and public opinion are paying serious attention to the highly unusual case of senior judge committing suicide over his sentencing of the ex-First Lady.