Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung has nominated a former Supreme Court justice as the new head of the Constitutional Court, according to a statement from the presidential office. Former Supreme Court Justice Kim Sang-hwan has been selected to succeed Moon Hyung-bae, who was serving as acting chief of the court until his retirement in April.
According to Yonhap News Agency, President Lee also named Oh Young-joon, the presiding judge of the Seoul High Court, to the court's nine-member bench. Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik informed reporters that these nominations represent the new government's initiative to restore the Constitutional Court. Kang emphasized that the appointments aim to halt attempts that have threatened to undermine the court and to bolster public confidence and the independence of its decisions.
The Constitutional Court recently gained attention when it upheld the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol in April, following his unsuccessful attempt at martial law in December. The ruling process saw some judges facing threats from Yoon's supporters.
In a related move, President Lee nominated Lim Kwang-hyun, a Democratic Party lawmaker, as commissioner of the National Tax Service. Lim, who formerly served as the Commissioner of the Seoul Regional Tax Service, was elected to the National Assembly last year through a proportional representation seat. If confirmed, Lim would become the first sitting lawmaker to head the National Tax Service.
All nominees are required to undergo parliamentary confirmation hearings before they can assume their roles. However, they do not need parliamentary approval to be formally appointed by the president.