Sitting Seoul Central District Court Senior Judge Says, "The Judiciary Needs Self-Reflection and Reform... Cho Must Resolve the Crisis He Created"

With the three judicial reform bills — the Court Constitutional Petition System, the judicial distortion offense, and the Expansion of Supreme Court Justices — about to be promulgated, a sitting senior judge at the Seoul Central District Court has called for self-reflection and reform within the judiciary and argued that Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Korea Cho Hee-dae must clarify whether he will remain in office.
According to the legal community on the 10th, Judge Song Seung-yong of Civil Single-Judge Division 922 of the Seoul Central District Court posted a message on the judiciary’s internal network, CourtNet, at around 10:50 p.m. the previous day, stating, "I call for self-reflection and reform within the judiciary."
Judge Song recalled that in June 2018, during the Judicial Scandal, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Korea Cho and other Supreme Court Justices expressed regret for having damaged public trust in the judiciary. He then asked pointedly, "What is the position of the Chief Justice and the Supreme Court Justices now?"
He assessed that the judiciary is now facing both a crisis of trust and a crisis of leadership. Judge Song stated, "The judiciary cannot exist without the trust of the people, yet it has lost that trust and has become an object of reform," adding, "In that process, we have been confronted with the grim reality that the judiciary’s views are not reflected at all." He went on to criticize, "Even in these circumstances, the Chief Justice has not presented any position."
He further pointed out, "The recommendation process for a Supreme Court Justice seat that has already become vacant is not even taking place," condemning this as "abandoning a grave duty regarding the composition of a constitutional institution."
Judge Song argued, "In a situation like this, it will be the starting point for resolving the crisis if those in positions of responsibility resolve the crisis they themselves created," urging Chief Justice Cho to state clearly whether he will stay in office or step down.
He also contended that if Chief Justice Cho does not issue a separate statement, a National Judges Representatives Conference should be convened to discuss how the judiciary should respond.
At the end of his post, he stressed, "My goal is clear: a judiciary that enjoys the trust and support of the people, and a judiciary whose fairness and neutrality are not shaken by the judicialization of politics or the politicization of the judiciary."
scottchoi15@fnnews.com Choi Eun-sol Reporter