Chief Justice Kim Myung-su Nominates Justice Noh Jeong-hee as Central Election Commission Member

First Female Election Commissioner Chairperson Upon Passing Confirmation Hearing

Justice No Jeong-hee / Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Chief Justice Kim Myung-soo has nominated Justice Noh Jeong-hee as a member of the National Election Commission. If she passes the confirmation hearing, she is likely to become the first female Chairperson of the National Election Commission.

The Supreme Court announced on the 25th that, following the recent resignation intention expressed by Kwon Soon-il, Chairperson of the National Election Commission, Justice Noh was nominated as his successor after comprehensively considering her character and the court’s trust in her. A Supreme Court official stated, "Justice Noh is well known for her smooth trial management and reasonable rulings, earning high trust from litigation parties," and added, "She is an excellent candidate to perform the duties of a member of the National Election Commission."

The Chief Justice plans to soon request a confirmation hearing from the National Assembly regarding Justice Noh. Since it is customary for a Supreme Court justice serving as a member of the National Election Commission to be elected as Chairperson, if Justice Noh is appointed as a member, she is expected to be elected as the first female Chairperson of the National Election Commission. If appointed Chairperson, her term will last until August 2024. She will oversee the next presidential election, local elections, and the 22nd general election.

Justice Noh was appointed as a judge in 1990 and served for five years before working as a lawyer for five years. She was reappointed as a judge in 2001 and handled various judicial duties, including serving as a professor at the Judicial Research and Training Institute and as the senior presiding judge at the Seoul Family Court. In July 2018, she was nominated as a Supreme Court justice candidate by Chief Justice Kim and began her six-year term in August of that year.