Justice Lee Heung-gu urges judicial reform upon retirement

Supreme Court Justice Lee Heung-gu addressed the growing public distrust in the judiciary during his retirement ceremony on December 7. Completing a six-year term, Lee emphasized that the court must humbly acknowledge the causes of this skepticism rather than resisting criticism. He noted that recent judicial reform legislation, including laws regarding judicial distortion and increasing the number of justices, was driven by public dissatisfaction with perceived unfairness and a lack of professionalism in trials.

Lee specifically highlighted the judiciary's failure to communicate its position effectively to the public during the national crisis following the December 3 martial law incident. He urged the court to move away from an authoritative stance and instead focus on providing professional, transparent, and persuasive rulings. He warned that if the court fails to communicate its decisions and intentions at critical moments, it risks losing its voice entirely.

His departure leaves two vacancies on the Supreme Court. While a nominee for his seat, Kim Seong-su, is scheduled for a National Assembly hearing on December 14, the vacancy left by former Justice Noh Tae-ak remains unfilled due to ongoing disputes between the court and the presidential office regarding the nomination process.