Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae Appoints Justice Cheon Dae-yeop as New Court Administration Office Chief

On the 5th, Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae appointed Justice Cheon Dae-yeop (60) as the new head of the Court Administration Office. The appointment will take effect on the 15th.

Justice Cheon, the new head of the Court Administration Office, is a graduate of the 21st class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute. He was appointed as a judge in 1995 and has served as a research judge at the Supreme Court, chief judge at the Busan District Court, chief judge at the Busan High Court, standing member of the Sentencing Commission, and senior chief judge at the Seoul High Court. He was appointed as a Supreme Court justice on May 8, 2021. Although appointed during the Moon Jae-in administration, he has never participated in progressive judicial groups such as Uri Beop Yeonguhoe or the International Human Rights Law Research Association within the court, and is therefore classified as moderate in political orientation.

Cheon Dae-yeop, New Chief of the Court Administration Office

Since his first appointment as a judge at the Eastern Branch of the Seoul District Court, he has worked in various courts for about 28 years, handling diverse trials, research activities, and judicial administrative duties. He served twice as a research judge at the Supreme Court for a total of six years and six months between 2004 and 2008, gaining specialized insight and experience in legal theory and trial practice. From 2017 to 2019, he served as a standing member of the Supreme Court Sentencing Commission, playing a pivotal role in setting and revising sentencing guidelines, contributing to the strengthening of the commission’s independence and expertise.

The head of the Court Administration Office is considered a key position overseeing judicial administration, including court organization, personnel, and budget. The position also entails ex officio membership in committees such as the Supreme Court and Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) candidate recommendation committees.

A Supreme Court official stated, "Justice Cheon, the new head of the Court Administration Office, is respected and trusted both inside and outside the court for his profound legal knowledge, excellent sense of balance, and outstanding expertise in sentencing and criminal law, which underpin his judgments and rulings. He is the right person to implement a rational judicial system for the people and to enhance public trust in the judiciary through proactive drive and leadership that communicates and empathizes with others."

Meanwhile, the current head of the Court Administration Office, Kim Sang-hwan, is expected to return to judicial duties as a Supreme Court justice starting on the 15th, after serving approximately two years and eight months since May 8, 2021.