(From L to R) Kim Sang-hwan, the nominee for chief justice of the Constitutional Court; Oh Young-joon, the nominee for Constitutional Court justice; and Lim Kwang-hyun, the nominee for commissioner of the National Tax Service, are seen in this composite file photo. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, June 26 (Korea Bizwire) — President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday nominated a former Supreme Court justice as the new chief of the Constitutional Court, the presidential office said.
Former Supreme Court Justice Kim Sang-hwan was picked to replace then acting court chief Moon Hyung-bae, who retired in April.
Lee also tapped Oh Young-joon, the presiding judge of the Seoul High Court, to join the court’s nine-member bench, presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik told reporters.
“The nominations mark the new government’s first step toward restoring the Constitutional Court,” Kang said. “They aim to end the attempts that had reached a dangerous level to undermine the court, and to further enhance public trust and the independence of its rulings.”
The top court was in the spotlight as it upheld the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol in April over his failed martial law bid in December, with some judges facing threats from Yoon’s supporters ahead of the ruling.
In addition, Lee nominated Lim Kwang-hyun, a lawmaker from the ruling Democratic Party, as commissioner of the National Tax Service.
Lim formerly served as Commissioner of the Seoul Regional Tax Service and was elected to the National Assembly last year through a proportional representation seat slot. If appointed, Lim would become the first sitting lawmaker to lead the National Tax Service.
All such nominees must undergo parliamentary confirmation hearings before they can be formally appointed by the president, but they do not need parliamentary approval to take their posts.
(Yonhap)
