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Professor challenges judge in South Korea travel ban lawsuit
🇰🇷 South Korea /Crime & Justice

Professor challenges judge in South Korea travel ban lawsuit

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified In the courts
  • A South Korean court is reviewing a professor's request to dismiss the judge presiding over his lawsuit challenging a travel ban.
  • The professor, who claims election fraud, argues the judge's prior decision to deny an injunction against the ban unfairly prevented his travel.
  • His legal team has filed a complaint against the judge, citing concerns about a fair trial and alleging abuse of power.

A South Korean court on Tuesday heard the first arguments in a lawsuit filed by a U.S. professor challenging a government travel ban. The professor, known in Korea as Dan Hyun-myung, is accused of spreading false information about President Lee Jae-myung.

During the hearing at the Seoul Administrative Court, the professor's legal team requested the recusal of the presiding judge, Wi Ji-hyun. They argued that a prior decision by Judge Wi to deny an emergency injunction against the travel ban on June 4th unfairly prevented the professor from traveling.

"We have filed a complaint with the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) against Judge Wi for dereliction of duty and abuse of power," stated Lee Ha-sang, the professor's lawyer. He expressed concerns about receiving a fair trial with the current judge presiding.

We have filed a complaint with the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) against Judge Wi for dereliction of duty and abuse of power. We have concerns about receiving a fair trial with the current judge presiding.

— Lee Ha-sangThe professor's lawyer, Lee Ha-sang, explained the legal team's decision to request the judge's recusal and file a complaint.

The legal team also held a press conference outside the courthouse, asserting that the travel ban infringes on freedom of expression. They claimed the professor is currently protesting alleged election fraud alongside South Korean citizens and that the government's attempt to silence him through a "baseless defamation frame" is an attack on his right to free speech.

The professor previously made controversial claims at a press conference in Washington D.C. last June, alleging that President Lee was involved in a murder case during his youth and was subsequently sent to a juvenile detention center. He faces charges of defamation for these statements. The travel ban was imposed by the Ministry of Justice from June 1 to June 30 after the professor failed to comply with a police summons for questioning.

The professor is currently protesting alleged election fraud alongside South Korean citizens and that the government's attempt to silence him through a 'baseless defamation frame' is an attack on his right to free speech.

— Professor's legal teamDuring a press conference after the court hearing, the professor's legal team argued that the travel ban constitutes an infringement on freedom of expression.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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