Presidential Office Decides to Submit Motion for Appointment of Supreme Court Justice Nominee to National Assembly
The Presidential Office has decided to submit to the National Assembly the motion for the appointment of Kim Sung-soo, a senior judge at the Seoul High Court, who was nominated as the successor to Supreme Court Justice Lee Heung-gu. This is a procedure intended to minimize vacancies in the judiciary and normalize the composition of the Supreme Court.
Judge Kim Sung-soo is a graduate of the 24th Judicial Research and Training Institute and is regarded within the legal community as a figure with extensive experience and expertise. Through the submission of this appointment motion, the Presidential Office expects the smooth operation of the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, the Presidential Office had previously decided to reject the nomination of Son Bong-gi, which had been proposed by Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae. At the time, the Presidential Office determined that the nomination lacked complete procedural integrity and requested a re-nomination.
With the official delivery of the appointment motion for nominee Kim Sung-soo to the National Assembly, the parliamentary confirmation hearing process is set to begin in earnest. The National Assembly will decide whether to consent to the appointment after verifying the nominee's qualifications and moral character.
As the appointment of a Supreme Court Justice is a core matter for the national judicial system, much public attention is focused on the upcoming National Assembly confirmation hearing process. It remains to be seen whether the relevant procedures will be concluded swiftly to prevent a prolonged vacancy in the judiciary.