Seol Beomsik Inaugurated as Gwangju High Court Chief Judge, Jang Yonggi as District Court Chief Judge

Seol Beomsik, Chief Judge of the Gwangju High Court, and Jang Yonggi, Chief Judge of the Gwangju District Court, each took office on the 10th.

Seol Beomsik, the new Chief Judge of Gwangju High Court. Photo by Yonhap News

In his inaugural address, Chief Judge Seol emphasized, "The court is the final bastion the people can rely on, and trials must be conducted swiftly to realize the timeliness of rights relief," adding, "Moreover, the core of public trust lies in judging solely according to the Constitution and the law, guided only by one's conscience, without any external influence."

He went on to say, "Members of the judiciary have a duty to fulfill their original mission unwaveringly," and stated, "Together with all members of the courts in the jurisdiction, I will do my utmost to create a court that earns the trust of the people."

Jang Yonggi, the new chief judge of Gwangju District Court. Photo by Yonhap News

Chief Judge Jang also stressed the importance of prompt and fair trials, saying, "A fair trial is both a legal ethic that legal professionals must uphold and a legal duty assigned to judges, and just as important as fairness is conducting trials swiftly to gain the trust of the people."

He added, "The judiciary must not be swayed by social or political turmoil, or by unjust public opinion and criticism," and declared, "As Chief Judge, I will respond firmly to any unjust attacks or criticism from outside."

Chief Judge Seol was born in Taean, Chungnam, graduated from Cheonan High School and majored in law at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, where he earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees. He completed the Judicial Research and Training Institute as part of the 20th class, and has since served as Presiding Judge at Daejeon District Court, Research Judge at the Supreme Court, Presiding Judge at Seoul Central District Court, Presiding Judge at the Patent Court, and Chief Secretary to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Chief Judge Jang was born in Namwon, Jeonbuk, graduated from Kumho High School and majored in public law at Seoul National University, completing the 24th class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute. He has served as a prosecutor at the Seoul and Gwangju District Prosecutors' Offices, started his own law practice, and was later appointed as a judge, serving as Judge at the Gwangju High Court, Director of the Haenam Branch of the Gwangju District Court, and Presiding Judge at the Gwangju District Court.