President Nominates Lee Gyun-yong as Chief Justice: A Shift towards Conservatism in the Supreme Court?
By Reporter Kim Sang-hoon
In a move signaling a potential shift in the ideology of the Supreme Court, President Yoon Seok-yeol has nominated Lee Gyun-yong, chief judge of the Seoul High Court, as the next chief justice. Lee, known for his conservative leanings, contrasts with the current progressive Chief Justice Kim Myeong-soo, whose term ends next month.
The Supreme Court, long associated with a reform agenda following the ‘Judicial Nongdan’ movement, seems poised to veer towards conservatism once again. This nomination suggests that the highest court in the land intends to accelerate its conservative approach to the law.
Lee Gyun-yong is highly regarded as an elite judge with a wealth of experience, having devoted 32 years to the judicial system. Not only has he demonstrated an orthodox understanding of the law, but his administrative prowess has also been tested, having twice served as chief judge.
Explaining his decision, President Yoon Seok-yeol’s office highlighted Lee’s commitment to principles, justice, and common sense, emphasizing his suitability to lead the judiciary. However, as Lee was attending his mother’s funeral, his personal stance on the nomination remains undisclosed.
President Yoon, himself a graduate of Seoul National University School of Law, appears to have a proclivity for appointing conservative judges. This trend is evident with his fourth consecutive nomination of male Supreme Court justices in their 50s and 60s from Seoul National University.
This nomination may have profound implications for future judgments. Representative cases under the current Chief Justice include the recognition of Tourette’s Syndrome as a disability and the condemnation of former Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Commissioner Koo Eun-soo for the death of farmer Baek Nam-gi. With Lee’s conservative inclinations, a different approach to controversial issues may emerge.
The Kim Myeong-soo-style reform, which emphasized increased participation by frontline judges, may also retreat with this change in leadership. Observers anticipate a significant overhaul in the composition of the Supreme Court Enforcement Body, a key determinant of our society’s direction.
While experts in human rights and labor law, as well as female justices, have made strides towards a more diverse Supreme Court, this nomination signals a potential reversal of these trends. As six Supreme Court justices conclude their terms next year, conservatives could gain further influence, potentially shaping the court’s trajectory for years to come.
As the nation awaits Lee Gyun-yong’s response to the nomination, it remains to be seen how the Supreme Court’s balance of power will shift under this new leadership.
Video Editing: Kwansun Kim
◀ Anchor ▶
President Yoon Seok-yeol nominated Lee Gyun-yong, chief judge of the Seoul High Court, to succeed Chief Justice Kim Myeong-soo, whose term ends next month.
Unlike the current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, who tends to be progressive, he is evaluated as an elite judge with conservative leanings.
It seems that the highest court, which has been on a reform banner since the ‘Judicial Nongdan’, will turn its direction again and accelerate its conservatism.
This is Reporter Kim Sang-hoon.
◀ Report ▶
President Yoon Seok-yeol nominated Lee Gyun-yong, chief judge of the Seoul High Court, as the next chief justice candidate, explaining the reason for the nomination, saying he was an orthodox judge who had devoted himself to trials for 32 years , and that his administrative ability was also checked by serving as the chief court twice.
[김대기/대통령 비서실장]
“I judge that she is the right person to lead the judiciary based on principles, justice and common sense.”
Candidate Lee, who was at the mother’s funeral, could not reveal his position.
President Yoon is a one-year junior at Seoul National University School of Law.
[이균용/대법원장 후보자 (작년 10월 국회 국정감사)]
<친하다고 돼 있죠, 지금?> “Well, it could be considered friendly.”
The ruling that recognized a patient with Tourette’s Syndrome, the so-called ‘tic disorder’, as a disabled person, and the ruling that condemned former Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Commissioner Koo Eun-soo for being responsible for the death of a farmer named Baek Nam-gi are considered to be representative judgments.
In the appeal trial of judges associated with judicial agriculture, they recognize their innocence as it was in the first trial.
Although not a Supreme Court Justice, he was appointed Chief Justice just like Chief Justice Kim Myung-soo, but the ‘Civil Case Law Research Association’ and the ‘Civil Case Law Research Association’ are in direct contrast to each other
It is evaluated that he has a pulpit with a conservative tendency and that he has a strong driving force to push.
Through public comments, Kim Myung-soo has consistently criticized the Supreme Court system in an indirect way.
For this reason, it is generally expected that the Kim Myung-soo-style reform, which has increased the participation of front-line judges, such as the recommendation of the chief judge and the meeting of the judges’ representatives, will retreat.
The composition of the Supreme Court Enforcement Body, which determines the major direction of our society, will also change significantly.
Meanwhile, human rights and labor law experts have been selected and the proportion of female Supreme Court justices has gradually increased, but with the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, only male Supreme Court justices in their 50s and 60s from University Seoul National nominated. for the fourth time in a row.
As six Supreme Court justices finish their terms next year, conservatism is expected to accelerate.
This is Kim Sang-hoon from MBC News.
Video Editing: Kwansun Kim
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