New Supreme Court Justice Oh Seok-jun Inaugurated... Emphasizing 'Fair Trials' and 'Public Trust'

On the afternoon of the 28th, newly appointed Supreme Court Justice Oh Seok-jun delivered his inaugural address at the inauguration ceremony held at the Supreme Court in Seocho-dong, Seoul. Photo by the Supreme Court

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, legal affairs specialist] Oh Seok-jun, the newly appointed Supreme Court Justice (age 60, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 19), emphasized "fair trials based on law and conscience" in his inaugural speech on the 28th.

At the inauguration ceremony held at the Supreme Court in Seocho-dong, Seoul, Justice Oh stated, "As a member of the judiciary, I will devote myself to restoring the public's trust through fair trials based solely on law and conscience."

Justice Oh expressed his thoughts, saying, "I am fully aware of the extremely high level of dedication, reflection, and courage required of a Supreme Court Justice," and added, "Recalling the strong sense of responsibility I engraved in my heart as a newly appointed judge 32 years ago, I will wholeheartedly follow the calling given to me as a Supreme Court Justice."

He said, "During the personnel hearing process, I deeply felt how much all citizens earnestly hope that judges will devote themselves wholeheartedly to the court's fundamental mission of delivering fair and just rulings and protecting the socially vulnerable," and pledged, "I will deeply engrave the voice of the sovereign people in my heart and devote all my passion and effort to every case I encounter during my six years as a Supreme Court Justice."

Justice Oh also emphasized, "I will put all my effort into delivering rational and just rulings that the public can accept," and stressed, "I will not easily choose between two options based on values but will continuously strive to find something closer to the correct answer."

He continued, "Furthermore, I will observe changes in the times with an objective and balanced perspective and constantly examine the direction our society should take," adding, "Through sufficient research and discussion, I will help establish legal standards that the public can empathize with, thereby contributing, even if modestly, to social integration."

Justice Oh quoted the phrase "Minmusinbulrip (民無信不立)" from the Analects of Confucius, An Yan chapter (顔淵篇), which means "Without the people's trust, nothing can be established," to emphasize the public's trust in the judiciary.

He said, "Confucius regarded trust as the most important virtue in the relationship between the people and the state, saying 'Minmusinbulrip,'" and added, "The foundation on which the judiciary can exist also lies in the public's trust in the judiciary."

He continued, "The public's trust can be earned when judges continuously strive to conduct swift and fair trials in accordance with the Constitution," emphasizing, "For trials to be trusted, above all, judges must declare that all citizens are equal before the law with an impartial heart that is not politically or ideologically biased in any case."

Finally, Justice Oh stated, "Moreover, all members of the judiciary must firmly oppose any unjust attempts or pressures to infringe upon judicial independence," adding, "To this end, it is necessary to create a warm atmosphere where members of the judiciary encourage and support each other without causing wounds or sorrow."

He concluded, "As a member of the judiciary, I will devote myself to restoring the public's trust through fair trials based solely on law and conscience."

Justice Oh graduated from Gwangseong High School in Seoul and the Department of Law at Seoul National University. After passing the 29th Judicial Examination in 1987 and completing the Judicial Research and Training Institute, he began his judicial career in 1990 at the Seoul Western District Court.

He subsequently served as a judge at the Seoul Criminal District Court, Chuncheon District Court, and Seoul District Court. From 2001 to 2002, he served as the Public Relations Officer at the Court Administration Office. After serving as a judge at the Seoul High Court, head of the Sokcho branch of the Chuncheon District Court, and professor at the Judicial Research and Training Institute, he again served as Public Relations Officer at the Court Administration Office in 2008 while serving as a presiding judge at the Seoul Southern District Court. In 2009, he also served as the Public Relations Officer at the Supreme Court.

He then served as a presiding judge at the Seoul Administrative Court and senior presiding judge at the Suwon District Court before becoming a presiding judge at the Seoul High Court in 2015. In February last year, he was appointed Chief Judge of the Jeju District Court.

Justice Oh was nominated as the first Supreme Court Justice candidate under the Yoon Seok-yeol administration on July 28. Although he completed the confirmation hearing on August 29, his appointment was delayed as the opposition party blocked the submission of the appointment consent bill to the plenary session. The bill was finally passed at the National Assembly plenary session on the 24th, 119 days after his nomination.

Before the inauguration ceremony, Justice Oh visited the National Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, in the morning and left a message in the guestbook saying, "I will devote all my efforts to fair trials, inheriting the noble spirit of the patriotic martyrs."