Court Administration Director Resigns Amid Ruling Party’s Push for Judicial Reform, Says “Reform Should Benefit the People” (Comprehensive)

Resignation Announced Just One Month After Appointment

"Stepping Down Will Benefit Both the Public and the Judiciary"

As the Democratic Party of Korea pushes ahead to legislate the so-called “Three Judicial Reform Bills” (Distortion of Justice Act, Judicial Appeal System, and Expansion of Supreme Court Justices), Park Youngjae, Director of the Court Administration (Supreme Court Justice), announced his intention to resign on February 27.

Park Young-jae, Chief of the Court Administration at the National Conference of Court Presidents. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

It has been confirmed that Park expressed his intention to resign to Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae earlier that morning.

Park stated, “Considering recent circumstances and the discussions both inside and outside the judiciary, I believe stepping down would help both the public and the judiciary, so I have decided to resign from my position. I am deeply sorry to be stepping down at a time when the judiciary is facing significant challenges.” He added, “I sincerely hope that the ongoing discussions on judicial system reform will ultimately benefit the people.”

Park’s decision is interpreted as taking responsibility and stepping down after the first of the Three Judicial Reform Bills, the Distortion of Justice Act, passed the National Assembly plenary session the previous day.

Last May, Park was the presiding justice before the case involving then-presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung’s violation of the Public Official Election Act was referred to the Grand Bench following a remand decision. Park was appointed Director of the Court Administration on January 13, succeeding former Director Chun Dae-yeop. He had faced calls for resignation and criticism from Democratic Party lawmakers, who demanded he apologize for and reflect on the Grand Bench’s ruling and even consider stepping down.

If Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae accepts Park’s resignation, a new Director of the Court Administration is expected to be appointed from among the other Supreme Court Justices. The Court Administration, an organization under the Supreme Court, is responsible for overseeing the judicial administration of all courts nationwide, delegated by the Chief Justice, and also handles external affairs such as those with the National Assembly.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.