Kim Sang-hwan, President of the Constitutional Court of Korea: "Concerns Over Emotional Polarization... Striving to Ensure Protection of Fundamental Rights"

[Financial News] Kim Sang-hwan, President of the Constitutional Court of Korea, expressed concerns about social polarization. In his New Year's address on the 31st, President Kim stated, "With the rapid development of science and technology and ongoing social changes, unexpected conflicts are arising. As a result, emotional polarization is deepening as differences in opinions widen the distance between people."
He continued, "Especially in such times, the Constitutional Court of Korea will reflect more deeply to ensure that diverse constitutional values are harmonized and that the fundamental rights of each and every citizen are fully protected." He added, "The past year, 2025, was a time for our society to reconsider the meaning of the Constitution and for all citizens to truly feel its significance."
He further emphasized, "It was a period that reminded us that the solemn spirit of Article 1 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea—'The Republic of Korea is a democratic republic, and all power comes from the people'—is a noble principle that must be constantly reaffirmed and practiced in our lives. The constitutional spirit of each era, which sought to protect the Constitution, has provided important lessons for the Constitutional Court of Korea. We will never forget that all the powers exercised by the Court are precious responsibilities derived from the people in accordance with the Constitution."
President Kim stated, "The Constitutional Court of Korea always keeps this in mind and will steadfastly fulfill its constitutional mission to meet the public's trust and expectations that constitutional adjudication will be fair and independent. The Court deeply values the public's interest and desire to understand how closely the Constitution is connected to our lives and why its values matter. To meet these expectations, we aim to share our accumulated experience, wisdom, and diverse academic research with the public and to create systems and spaces for discussion and dialogue."
He added, "As public demand for constitutional education has greatly increased, we will work to expand the number of professors and experts to provide more opportunities for people to learn about the Constitution and enjoy its values in daily life. We will also strengthen the institutional foundation to systematically expand related organizations. The Constitutional Court of Korea wishes to walk the path of understanding, practicing, and living the Constitution together with the people. We ask for your continued interest and advice."
theknight@fnnews.com Jung Kyung-soo Reporter