Revisiting the Life and Legacy of Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae
after the Impeachment Ruling of President Yoon
The impeachment trial verdict of President Yoon Seok-yeol held at the Grand Bench of the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae of the Constitutional Court is delivering the verdict on President Yoon Seok-yeol's impeachment trial. Photo by Joint Press Corps
On the 4th, the eyes and ears of the entire nation were focused on the Constitutional Court. This was because Moon Hyung-bae, Acting Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, read the decision on the impeachment trial of President Yoon Seok-yeol. After 122 days since the declaration of martial law on December 3rd, the president was dismissed. The figure who drew attention alongside this event was none other than Acting Chief Justice Moon, who led the tribunal.
Acting Chief Justice Moon was born in 1965 in Hadong-gun, Gyeongnam, as the son of a farmer. He graduated from middle school wearing worn-out school uniforms and using well-used textbooks handed down to him. In his second year of high school, he met Kim Jang-ha, a philanthropist who dedicated his life to sharing. Thanks to Kim’s scholarship, he was able to continue his studies up to his senior year at Seoul National University and passed the bar exam. He says, "The person who made me who I am today is elder Kim Jang-ha."
Mr. Kim ran a traditional herbal medicine shop in Jinju, Gyeongnam for 60 years, quietly supporting students in difficult circumstances. He spent over 10 billion won of his own money to establish schools, and in 1983, at the age of 39, he founded Myeongshin High School in Jinju, which he donated to the state in 1991. Mr. Kim said, "The reason I couldn’t study was poverty," and gave most of his earnings as scholarships for students. He also did not turn a blind eye to the lives of those in need, establishing shelters for women and children suffering from domestic violence.
Later, at a National Assembly confirmation hearing, Acting Chief Justice Moon recalled, "Teacher showed me firsthand that the Republic of Korea is a place where it is possible to build wealth based on freedom, pursue equality to reduce discrimination, and connect communities through philanthropy." He became emotional as he recounted the words he heard from Mr. Kim when he went to express his gratitude after passing the bar exam.
"You don’t need to thank me. I have given you what belongs to this society, so if you want to repay, repay not me but this society."
Reflecting on these words, Acting Chief Justice Moon stated, "During the 27 years I have walked the path of a judge, I have devoted myself wholeheartedly to ensuring that the noble will of the Constitution is properly upheld in our society. I have lived believing that this is the only way to repay even a little of the debt I owe to society, as taught by my teacher." He also pledged, "Even if I am appointed as a justice, my original intention will never change."
This touching story was conveyed through "Eoreun Kim Jang-ha" (Elder Kim Jang-ha), a two-part documentary produced by Gyeongnam MBC in 2022. The resonance of this small documentary made by a regional broadcaster was strong. It received responses that made people think about the true elders of this era and gained support from the younger generation. Later, it was also aired on Netflix through word of mouth.
The documentary was the first terrestrial broadcast content to win the Baeksang Arts Award in the documentary category, and in November 2023, it was made into a theatrical film, attracting over 30,000 viewers. Recently, the scene of Acting Chief Justice Moon’s tears has once again drawn attention on social media and other online platforms, increasing the number of viewers wanting to watch it on various online video services (OTT).
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