The first Supreme Court justice nominee to be appointed by the Lee Jae-myung administration has been narrowed to four: Kim Min-gi (55, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 26), a High Court judge at the Suwon High Court; Park Sun-young (59, class 25), a High Court judge at the Seoul High Court; Son Bong-gi (60, class 22), a presiding judge at the Daegu District Court; and Yoon Sung-sik (57, class 24), a presiding judge at the Seoul High Court.
The Supreme Court Justice Candidate Recommendation Committee (the committee) said on the afternoon of the 21st that it concluded its meeting and recommended four of the 39 candidates for Supreme Court justice to Chief Justice Jo Hee-de.
The Supreme Court Justice Recommendation Committee noted that in a society where conflict and division are intensifying, the Supreme Court must resolve disputes with common-sense and fair rulings and guarantee basic rights.
It added that it focused on recommending candidates who, in addition to the basic qualities and abilities of a legal professional—such as specialized legal knowledge, the ability to make rational judgments, and a sense of balance—possess universal conscience and integrity that meet the public's expectations, a sense of mission to guarantee the people's freedoms and rights, a belief in the rule of law and the dignity of the judiciary, a commitment to protecting the socially vulnerable and minorities, and the insight and discernment to read the changes of the times and embrace the diverse values of society.
High Court Judge Kim Min-gi served at the Seoul District Court and the Seoul Administrative Court and worked as a Supreme Court research judge. High Court Judge Park Sun-young also has experience as a research judge and worked at the Seoul High Court and the Daejeon High Court. Presiding Judge Son Bong-gi served as a professor at the Judicial Research and Training Institute and as the chief judge of the Daegu District Court. Presiding Judge Yoon Sung-sik served as a professor at the Judicial Research and Training Institute and as spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Planning and Coordination at the National Court Administration. In the past, Yoon was also affiliated with the Research Society for Our Law.
The Supreme Court justice to be appointed this time will succeed Justice Roh Tae-ak (64, class 16), who retires on Mar. 3. The president will appoint a Supreme Court justice for the first time since taking office in Jun. last year.
Chief Justice Jo will collect a range of opinions through the 26th and next week will recommend one of the four to the president for appointment. If the nominee passes the National Assembly confirmation hearing and a plenary vote, the president will make the final appointment as Supreme Court justice.