A South Korean judge who handled former first lady Kim Keon-hee's appeals trial on corruption charges was found dead early Wednesday, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Shin Jong-oh, a 55-year-old judge at the Seoul High Court, was found in a flower bed near the court building in Seoul at around 1 a.m. local time after police received a report around midnight, according to the report.

A suicide note was found at the scene, and police are investigating the exact cause of death.

According to South Korean media, the note was found in the clothing Judge Shin was wearing at the time of his death and reportedly stated, "I'm sorry. I'm leaving on my own." It didn't mention former first lady Kim Keon-hee or any details related to the trial, and police do not suspect foul play, the media reported.

A special counsel team on Monday appealed to South Korea's Supreme Court against an appellate court ruling that sentenced Kim, the wife of former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, to four years in prison over charges that include stock manipulation and graft.

On April 28, 2026, the Seoul High Court overturned the lower court's ruling, increasing Kim's prison term from 20 months to four years with a fine of 50 million won (about $33,910), though the sentence fell short of the 15-year sentence sought by the special counsel team.

As reported by South Korean media, born in Seoul, Shin began his judicial career in 2001 at the Uijeongbu branch of the Seoul District Court. In 2023, he was named an outstanding judge by the Seoul Metropolitan Bar Association.