Democratic Party Recruits Former Chief Judge Lee Su-jin, 'Yang Seung-tae Sniper'... "Complete Judicial Reform"

Democratic Party Recruits Former Chief Judge Lee Su-jin as 13th General Election Candidate on 27th
'Principled Judge' Who Opposed Former Chief Justice Yang Seung-tae

Lee Su-jin, former chief judge

[Asia Economy Reporter Won Dara] The Democratic Party of Korea has recruited former Chief Judge Lee Su-jin as its 13th candidate for the general election. Former Chief Judge Lee is regarded as a 'principled judge' within the judiciary, who was also listed on the so-called 'blacklist' under former Chief Justice Yang Seung-tae.

The Democratic Party's Talent Recruitment Committee held a press conference at the National Assembly on the morning of the 27th to announce the recruitment of former Chief Judge Lee. The party explained the reason for recruiting her as "a principled judge who has led judicial reform within the courts."

The recruitment committee added, "Former Chief Judge Lee opposed the High Court proposed by former Chief Justice Yang Seung-tae, criticized the imperial Chief Justice system, and is one of the biggest victims of judicial corruption listed on the blacklist created by the Court Administration Office under the Yang Seung-tae regime." Former Chief Judge Lee is the second recruit from among judges after former Judge Lee Tan-hee and the first among senior judges at the chief judge level.

Born in Nonsan, Chungnam, former Chief Judge Lee entered Seoul National University’s Department of Economics in 1991 and passed the bar exam in 1998. After completing the 31st Judicial Research and Training Institute in 2002, she was appointed as a judge. During her tenure, she issued a ruling recognizing state compensation liability for illegal prosecution in the 'Jo Doo-soon case.'

In 2009, she participated in the Central Court Judges' Meeting to condemn Justice Shin Young-chul's infringement of judicial authority in the Candlelight Trial case. In 2011, she helped found the International Human Rights Law Research Association and engaged in activities opposing authoritarianism within the judiciary, including working on judicial personnel systems. In 2018, as an active judge, she unusually raised suspicions about the delay in forced labor cases under the Yang Seung-tae Supreme Court through a broadcast interview.

At the party admission ceremony that day, former Chief Judge Lee stated, "While many judges remained silent out of fear of potential disadvantages, Judge Lee Su-jin boldly expressed her principles in a public setting," adding, "I will create a judiciary that upholds principles, fair trials, and systems that lead to transparent and just rulings."

She continued, "We must establish a transparent personnel system by law to prevent the imperial Chief Justice from wielding personnel power any longer," emphasizing, "We must break down the wall of poor communication within the courts and dismantle the elitist mindset that has been wrongly built up. I will complete judicial reform that guarantees human rights through legislation."

She also shared, "As a recipient of livelihood protection, I moved from house to house early on to attend school, and my university admission was delayed because I had to earn living expenses. If the warmth of the world had not held my family’s hand, I would not be standing here today," adding, "I intend to create laws that protect the weak based on the principles and mission I have upheld as a judge."