Presiding Director General Judge Jee Kui-youn, who is hearing former President Yoon Suk-yeol's "insurrection ringleader" case, will be transferred to the Seoul Northern District Court on Feb. 23 under the regular judicial personnel reshuffle. However, with the first-instance verdict in the case scheduled for Feb. 19, the proceedings are expected to face no disruption.
The Supreme Court on the 6th announced regular personnel transfers for 1,003 judges at the level of district court Director General judges and below. The appointments take effect on Feb. 23, with the Daejeon, Daegu, and Gwangju Rehabilitation Courts to implement them on Mar. 1, respectively.
With Director General Judge Jee moving posts, the composition of the Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 25, which is handling the first trial of the former President Yoon case, will also change starting Feb. 23. Still, because the verdict is scheduled before the personnel changes take effect, observers note that the practical impact of the reshuffle will be limited.
At the Seoul Central District Court, Director General Judges Lee Jin-gwan, Baek Dae-hyun, and Woo In-seong, who mainly handle insurrection cases, will not move to other courts in this reshuffle. Director General Judge Lee Hyun-bok, who has been hearing former Prosecutor Kim Sang-min's bribery-for-appointment allegation case and former President Moon Jae-in's bribery case, will leave the bench.
In this reshuffle, the Supreme Court newly appointed 132 district court Director General judges. Of these, 60 were women judges (45.5%). Judges appointed after completing the Judicial Research and Training Institute or passing the bar exam and then serving as prosecutors or attorneys numbered 21 (15.9%).
In addition, 22 judges who have earned trust through long-term service on the bench were appointed as support chiefs. Of the newly appointed support chiefs, 5 were women judges (22.7%).
Regarding management of the appeals workforce, the court expanded appointments of district court Director General judges as Supreme Court research judges, aiming to make the tenure more flexible and broaden opportunities. In this reshuffle, nine district court Director General judges were appointed as research judges.
In the area of judicial administration, one position for a policy coordination deliberation officer was added in consideration of increased external affairs. The aim is to advance key tasks such as publishing judgments, trial broadcasting, and introducing AI for trial support. In addition, one judicial artificial intelligence deliberation officer position was newly created to handle judicial AI policy development, reviews of intelligent information technologies including AI and big data, and development of AI systems related to trials and judicial administration. To strengthen the functions of the Judicial Research and Training Institute, including training for new judges and support for law school practical education, one instructor position at the institute was also added.
Retiring judges totaled 45, including 39 district court Director General judges, one research judge, and five district court judges.