New National Court Administration Minister (Supreme Court justice) No Kyung-pil (62, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 23) said on the 14th, "External pressure and burdens that make it difficult for judges to conduct independent trials and for court members to perform their duties stably are growing."
At the inauguration ceremony held that morning at the Supreme Court's Mugunghwa Hall, the new Minister No said, "I will be a solid shield so that every member of the judiciary can carry out their duties with conviction in accordance with the law and principles," adding the above.
He went on, "Not long ago, there was a heartbreaking incident in which we had to bid farewell to a judge who had carried out trial duties more diligently than anyone," adding, "I offer my deepest condolences to all court members who have silently endured that hardship and pain."
Earlier, Shin Jong-o, a late Seoul High Court judge who handled the appellate trial in the Kim Keon-hee case, was found dead on court grounds in May. Before his death, Judge Shin was known to have told those around him that his workload was too heavy.
Minister No took office four months after his predecessor, Supreme Court Justice Park Young-jae, resigned as head of the administration. Justice Park resigned after the ruling party pushed through in the National Assembly the so-called "three judiciary bills," including the introduction of a law distortion offense, the introduction of a constitutional complaint on trials, and an increase in the number of Supreme Court justices.
Regarding this, Minister No said, "The major changes in the judicial system we have recently faced have become an opportunity to reflect deeply on whether our judiciary has failed to fully meet the public's interest and expectations," adding, "I intend to begin my mission with efforts to listen closely to each and every public voice, understand its meaning properly, and reflect it."
Minister No said, "Improving the judicial system using artificial intelligence will greatly enhance not only the efficiency of trial work but also the public's access to justice and convenience," adding, "In addition, we will pursue various improvements to ensure that human rights are protected and thorough trials are conducted in criminal justice procedures."
Minister No is from Haenam, South Jeolla, and graduated from Gwangju High School and Seoul National University School of Law. Appointed as a judge in 1997, he served as a research judge at the Supreme Court, a judge at the Seoul High Court, a Director General judge at the Gwangju High Court, a Director General judge and senior Director General judge at the Suwon High Court, and was appointed a Supreme Court justice in Aug. 2024.