[Full Text] Chief Justice Yoo Nam-seok's New Year's Address: "Realizing a 'Trial-Centered Court'"

Yoo Nam-seok, Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Yoo Nam-seok, Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, stated in his 2021 New Year's address, "I will do my best to realize a 'court-centered court' through careful and fair trials."

Chief Justice Yoo said, "We understand well why the people have entrusted the Constitutional Court with constitutional adjudication," adding, "The reason for the existence and mission of the Constitutional Court is to ensure that the spirit and principles of the Constitution are fully realized in the lives of the people through constitutional adjudication."

He continued, "We will become a court that listens carefully and seriously to the voices and difficulties of the people," and "We will not forget that the subjects the Constitutional Court examines and judges are not laws printed in books, but laws that permeate the lives of the people and breathe within them."

The full text of the New Year's address follows.

Dear respected citizens,

The year of the Ox, 2021, has dawned.

In this new year, I wish all citizens to be healthy and to vigorously advance toward their goals, filled with the strong energy of the Ox.

Currently, the global community is facing many difficulties due to the novel coronavirus infection, COVID-19, which has continued since last year. In South Korea as well, confirmed cases have increased nationwide, leading to higher levels of social distancing and mandatory mask-wearing, causing significant changes to ordinary daily life.

Despite these hardships, our Republic of Korea is overcoming this difficult period thanks to the active participation of citizens in quarantine efforts and the devoted efforts and sacrifices of medical personnel and volunteers. However, many of our neighbors around us have lost their daily lives and been driven out from their living places. There is a saying that the level of a society is judged by the level of its most vulnerable members. Now is the time to show the true level of our community.

Dear citizens,

In our history, trials have been the beginning of great steps toward a new future. The current trials caused by COVID-19 will also be overcome well and can become an opportunity for new social development. The Constitutional Court, welcoming the new year, promises that all members will do their best to realize a 'court-centered court' through trials that provide hope to the people, and through careful and fair adjudication without wavering.

We understand well why you have entrusted the Constitutional Court with constitutional adjudication. The reason for the existence and mission of the Constitutional Court is to ensure that the spirit and principles of the Constitution are fully realized in the lives of the people through constitutional adjudication. To this end, we will become a court that listens carefully and seriously to the voices and difficulties of the citizens who knock on the door of the Constitutional Court. We will not forget that the subjects the Constitutional Court examines and judges are not laws printed as letters in law books, but laws that permeate the lives of the people and breathe within them.

Dear respected citizens,

There is a saying, Ubo Manri (牛步萬里), meaning that even if an ox walks slowly, it can travel ten thousand li. Although these are difficult times due to COVID-19, I believe that if we move forward step by step together, we can overcome any hardship.

Once again, I wish for your health and happiness. Happy New Year.

Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Yoo Nam-seok

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