Supreme Court Justice Lee Heung-gu to Retire, Leaving Two Justice Vacancies... “Trial Delays Set to Persist”

[Financial News] As Supreme Court Justice Lee Heung-gu prepares to retire, the vacancy on the Supreme Court will increase from one to two after continuing for more than six months. If the vacancies persist, delays in proceedings are also expected to continue.
According to legal circles on the 6th, Justice Lee will retire on the 7th after completing his six-year term. He was nominated by former Chief Justice Kim Myung-soo in September 2020 and appointed under the Moon Jae-in administration.
With the vacancy left by former Supreme Court Justice Rho Tae-ak continuing for more than six months, Justice Lee is also leaving the Supreme Court of Korea before the process of appointing his successor has been completed. This leaves the court with two vacancies. However, Seoul High Court Chief Judge Kim Sung-soo, who was nominated as Justice Lee’s successor, is currently undergoing the confirmation hearing process.
Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae had announced that he would issue an official statement last week, but the announcement was postponed until this week following the sudden death of his father. Accordingly, the Supreme Court of Korea is expected to issue its official position as early as the beginning of this week.
If Chief Justice Cho decides to reconstitute the recommendation committee, its recommendation process would have to begin again, followed by consultations and an agreement with the presidential office from the start. This would take more time than renominating one of the existing candidates.
If Chief Justice Cho makes such a decision, tensions are also expected to intensify with the ruling bloc and others who have argued that one of the existing recommended candidates should be renominated. As a result, the Supreme Court vacancy crisis could continue for an extended period well beyond six months.
Accordingly, delays are inevitable not only in hearings before panels of four Supreme Court justices but also in full-bench proceedings involving all Supreme Court justices.
The full bench is currently hearing cases involving Kim Keon Hee, including allegations of stock-price manipulation involving Deutsche Motors, as well as cases involving former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, including allegations of performing an important role in an insurrection.
[email protected] Yoo Sun-jun Reporter