Supreme Court Justice Park Young-jae, head of the National Court Administration, tendered his resignation to Chief Justice Jo Hee-de on the 27th. The resignation came as the National Assembly was poised to pass a Constitutional Court Act revision led by the Democratic Party of Korea that would introduce a system allowing appeals to the Constitutional Court against court rulings.
According to legal sources on the 27th, the Minister conveyed to Chief Justice Jo in the morning the intention to resign as head of the agency. The Minister said, "Considering recent developments and discussions inside and outside the judiciary, it seems that my stepping down would help the public and the judiciary," adding, "I am sorry to step down at a time when the judiciary is facing many difficulties." The Minister added, "I hope the ongoing discussions on judicial system reforms proceed in a way that benefits the public."
The head of the National Court Administration oversees judicial administration, including personnel and budgets for courts nationwide, under the direction of the chief justice. The chief justice appoints one of the sitting Supreme Court justices, and the appointee does not preside over trials while in office. The Minister was appointed on the 13th of last month to succeed former head Chun Dae-yup.
The Minister has repeatedly expressed concerns in the National Assembly over the so‑called "three judicial reform bills" being pushed by the Democratic Party of Korea. At a national chief judges' meeting on the 25th, the Minister said, "The three bills to reform the judicial system would not only bring significant changes to the essential role and functions of the courts but could also directly affect the public," adding, "In the deliberation process, the views of the judiciary, which directly handles trials, need to be reflected."
At a full session of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the 4th, the Minister, regarding the introduction of appeals to the Constitutional Court against court rulings, pointed out that it "would pave the way to a four‑instance system and plunge the public into a litigation hell." On the Court Organization Act revision bill to increase the number of Supreme Court justices, the Minister said, "Excellent lower‑court judges would inevitably move to serve as Supreme Court research judges, raising concerns about the weakening of the lower courts."
At the plenary session in the afternoon, the Democratic Party of Korea plans to end the ongoing filibuster by the People Power Party over the Constitutional Court Act revision with the approval of at least three‑fifths of all lawmakers, then proceed to a vote. After handling the Constitutional Court Act revision, the party also plans to place the Court Organization Act revision on the plenary agenda.
The Minister served as the presiding justice in the Supreme Court appeal of President Lee Jae-myung's case on alleged violations of the Public Official Election Act. After the case assignment, the Supreme Court referred it to the full bench, then reversed the lower court's acquittal and remanded the case with a finding of guilt. When Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Kim Yong-min argued on the 4th that the Minister should apologize for the Supreme Court's ruling on President Lee and even consider resigning as head of the National Court Administration, the Minister responded, "It was a ruling made in accordance with the Constitution and the law, and in line with proper procedure."