Three Candidates Recommended for Supreme Court Justice: Judges Son Bong-gi, Oh Kyung-mi, and Professor Ha Myung-ho

On the 29th, Son Bong-gi, former Chief Judge of Daegu District Court, Ha Myung-ho, Professor at Korea University Law School, and Oh Kyung-mi, Chief Judge of the Jeonju Branch of Gwangju High Court (from left)/Photo by the Supreme Court

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist] Three candidates have been recommended as successors to Justice Lee Gi-taek, who will retire in September upon the expiration of his term: Son Bong-gi, former Chief Judge of Daegu District Court (55, Judicial Research and Training Institute Class 22); Ha Myung-ho, professor at Korea University Law School (52, Class 22); and Oh Kyung-mi, judge at the Jeonju Branch of Gwangju High Court (52, Class 25).

The Supreme Court Justice Candidate Recommendation Committee held a meeting at 2 p.m. on the 29th in the Supreme Court conference room, with all members including Chairperson Park Eun-jung (former Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission) present. Among the 17 candidates recommended by public nomination, the committee recommended these three to Chief Justice Kim Myung-soo as candidates for nomination as Supreme Court Justices.

According to the Supreme Court, Chairperson Park immediately after the recommendation committee meeting delivered the list of the three candidates deemed qualified and recommended for nomination as Supreme Court Justices to the Chief Justice in writing.

Chairperson Park stated, "The members of the Supreme Court Justice Candidate Recommendation Committee recommended candidates who firmly uphold the constitutional spirit of separation of powers and the protection of citizens' fundamental rights, who embrace diverse values of our society, and who possess insight to understand societal changes and public expectations, along with moral integrity and honesty."

Former Judge Son, a native of Daegu, graduated from Daegu Dalseong High School and Korea University. After passing the 32nd Judicial Examination in 1990, he served as a military legal officer and was appointed as a judge at Daegu District Court in 1996. He subsequently served as ▲Judge at Andong Branch of Daegu District Court ▲Judge at Daegu High Court ▲Research Judge at the Supreme Court ▲Chief Judge at Sangju Branch of Daegu District Court ▲Professor at Judicial Research and Training Institute ▲Senior Judge at Daegu District Court ▲Senior Chief Judge at Ulsan District Court ▲Senior Judge at Daegu District Court, and served as Chief Judge of Daegu District Court in 2019. He is currently serving as a senior judge at Daegu District Court.

Professor Ha, from Jinan, Jeonbuk, graduated from Hongik University High School in Seoul and Korea University. After passing the 32nd Judicial Examination in 1990, he served as a military legal officer and began his judicial career at Daejeon District Court in 1996. He later served as ▲Judge at Cheonan Branch of Daejeon District Court ▲Judge at Incheon District Court ▲Judge at Suwon District Court ▲Judge at Seoul High Court (dispatched to the Constitutional Court), and served as a Research Judge at the Supreme Court in 2006 before moving to Korea University Law School as a professor in 2007. Since 2009, he has been a professor at Korea University Law School.

Judge Oh, from Iksan, Jeonbuk, graduated from Iri Girls' High School in Iksan and Seoul National University, majoring in law. After passing the 35th Judicial Examination in 1993 and completing the Judicial Research and Training Institute, she was appointed as a judge at Seoul District Court in 1996. She has since served as ▲Judge at Southern Branch of Seoul District Court ▲Judge at Changwon District Court ▲Judge at Busan District Court ▲Investigation Officer at the Court Library ▲Professor at Judicial Research and Training Institute ▲Senior Judge at Busan District Court ▲Judge at Seoul High Court ▲Judge at Gwangju High Court ▲Judge at Seoul High Court, and has been serving as a judge at the Jeonju Branch of Gwangju High Court since February this year.

Typically, after the recommendation committee nominates candidates, the Chief Justice conducts an internal review for about a week and then nominates one final candidate to the President for appointment.

The Supreme Court announced that starting today, it will disclose the list of recommended candidates along with major rulings and work records, and from the 30th to the 5th of next month, it will collect various opinions from inside and outside the judiciary regarding the suitability of the candidates as Supreme Court Justices.

The Justice to be appointed this time will be the last Supreme Court Justice nominated by Chief Justice Kim Myung-soo and appointed by President Moon Jae-in.