Supreme Court Justice Chun Dae-yup has been named as the successor National Election Commission Commissioner to replace Chairperson Roh Tae-ak, who is set to retire as a Supreme Court justice.
The Supreme Court said on the 26th that Chief Justice Jo Hee-de has designated Justice Chun as a National Election Commission Commissioner. The personnel move follows Chairperson Roh's recent expression of intent to resign, and Roh will retire as a Supreme Court justice on Feb. 3.
If nominee Chun undergoes a National Assembly confirmation hearing, Chun is expected to serve as National Election Commission chairperson. The National Election Commission consists of nine members—three appointed by the president, three elected by the National Assembly, and three designated by the chief justice—and by convention, when a Supreme Court justice concurrently serves as a Commissioner, that person has served as chairperson.
Concerns had been raised that a delay in recommending a successor to Justice Roh could create a vacancy both on the Supreme Court and in the National Election Commission chairperson post, but the Supreme Court explained that the six-year chairperson term is separate from a Supreme Court justice's term.
Regarding the background of the designation, the Supreme Court said, "Nominee Chun has earned respect and trust inside and outside the judiciary through rulings grounded in extensive legal knowledge, balance, and high criminal law expertise," adding, "As head of the National Court Administration, Chun has been dedicated to realizing swift and fair trials by resolving trial delays."
It added, "Chun has carried out reasonable and fair judicial work in accordance with law and principle and has performed judicial administration duties excellently, making Chun a suitable candidate to perform the duties of a National Election Commission Commissioner in a stable manner." Chief Justice Jo plans to soon request a National Assembly confirmation hearing for nominee Chun.
Nominee Chun was appointed as a judge at the Seoul District Court Eastern Branch in 1995, served twice as a research judge at the Supreme Court, and went on to serve as a senior judge at the Seoul Central District Court, a standing member of the Sentencing Commission, and a senior judge and chief senior judge at the Seoul High Court before taking office as a Supreme Court justice in May 2021. Chun served as head of the National Court Administration for two years from Jan. 2024 to this January.