Cho Hee-dae urges judicial independence at judge appointment ceremony

Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae emphasized the fundamental values of judicial independence, fairness, and integrity during an appointment ceremony for 146 newly appointed judges at the Supreme Court in Seoul.

Addressing the new judges, who all possess at least five years of legal experience, Cho stated that judicial independence is not a personal privilege for judges but a constitutional requirement to guarantee the public's right to a fair trial. He urged the appointees to listen to diverse societal voices while making decisions based solely on the Constitution, laws, and their own conscience.

Cho also highlighted the importance of timely trials, describing the realization of swift judicial processes as an essential duty of the judiciary. He noted that delays can prevent citizens from effectively protecting their rights. The new judges, consisting of 62 men and 84 women with an average age of 35.1, will undergo training at the Judicial Research and Training Institute before being assigned to various courts on February 22 next year.