Supreme Court Justice Rho Tae-ak Says, "Judicialization of Politics Ultimately Leads to Distrust in the Judiciary"

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\r\n[The Financial News] Supreme Court Justice Rho Tae-ak said in his retirement address on the 3rd, "In a society as polarized as ours, the judicialization of politics is highly likely to end up leading to distrust in the judiciary."
\r\nJustice Rho stated in his farewell remarks at the Supreme Court of Korea in Seocho District, Seoul, that "we are seeing an intensifying trend of bringing to the courts issues that can and should be resolved through political processes," and expressed his concern in these terms.
He went on, "When judicial outcomes are interpreted through a political lens, it becomes difficult to avoid criticism and attacks from one side or the other," adding, "Even in such circumstances, judges must uphold political neutrality."
Reflecting on his 36 years on the bench, he recalled, "At times I struggled between a 'good outcome' and a 'legally correct judgment,'" and added, "Even as I tried to reach a good outcome, there were moments when I acutely felt the gap between that and the correct judgment. On such occasions, I sometimes lay awake at night, troubled and perplexed."
He continued, "People say, 'Court decisions can change the world,'" but added, "I must also confess that there are inherent limits in legal interpretation, rooted in the very nature of adjudication, that we cannot transcend."
\r\nHe also stressed the importance of judicial independence and public trust. "I believe the two stepping stones of our Judiciary are the independence of judicial power and the trust of the people," he said, adding, "However, the independence of judicial power is not an end in itself, and it is certainly not a privilege or benefit granted to judges."
He added, "Its sole purpose is to ensure that trials are conducted fairly so that the rule of law can function properly, thereby ultimately safeguarding the legal peace and happiness of the people," and emphasized, "Judicial independence cannot be achieved merely by pursuing it as an abstract goal. It can be properly realized only when we earn the public’s trust through fair trials, accompanied by constant self-reflection."
\r\nJustice Rho also addressed new challenges facing the Judiciary with the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI). He said, "Before long, artificial general intelligence (AGI) will emerge, and at the point where we cross the so-called singularity, humanity may have to redefine its relationship with AI as a kind of partner," and stressed, "In any circumstance, at the heart of adjudication there must remain the insight of judges, grounded in human dignity."
In closing, he reflected, "Over the past six years as a Supreme Court Justice, with my limited and imperfect abilities, it feels as though I spent each day without even having time to recognize my own pain," and added, "Like the title of a book I once happened to see on my shelf, the phrase 'All lives are clumsy' has been a source of comfort regarding my own shortcomings." 
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hwlee@fnnews.com Lee Hwan-joo Reporter