President Moon: "Judiciary Must Embrace Changing Times and Play a Vital Role"

Conversation with Chief Justice Kim Myung-soo at Cheong Wa Dae... Medal awarded to former Justice Lee Ki-taek, Appointment letter presented to Justice Oh Kyung-mi

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] On the 6th, President Moon Jae-in urged Chief Justice Kim Myung-soo, "Policies are created and executed by the executive branch, but socially sensitive issues find direction through judicial rulings. Therefore, please perform your important role well while embracing the changes of the times."

When Chief Justice Kim said, "Supreme Court justices have to handle a large volume of cases, and the burden is heavy as the final instance," President Moon responded, "That is why it is an even more meaningful position," conveying a message of encouragement.

On this day at the Blue House, there was a ceremony to award the Order of Service Merit to former Justice Lee Ki-taek and a commissioning ceremony for newly appointed Justice Oh Kyung-mi. Chief Justice Kim attended the event marking the de facto last appointment ceremony of justices under the Moon Jae-in administration.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Park Kyung-mi, spokesperson for the Blue House, explained, "On the morning of the 6th, President Moon Jae-in awarded the Order of Service Merit to retiring former Justice Lee Ki-taek, followed by the commissioning of newly appointed Justice Oh Kyung-mi."

After the award ceremony for former Justice Lee, President Moon said, "He served as a judge throughout his life and performed the honorable duties of a Supreme Court justice, becoming an excellent role model. One of his most notable rulings was that installing wheelchair-only seats on metropolitan buses facing sideways rather than forward constitutes discrimination against people with disabilities."

Spokesperson Park conveyed, "(President Moon) evaluated, 'This ruling, which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities and demonstrates sensitivity to human rights, contributed to raising human rights awareness in our society.'"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Former Justice Lee said, "The work of a judge is to interpret the sovereignty of the people. I am grateful to the people who entrusted me with this duty on their behalf, and thanks to many who supported me, I am able to retire without any major issues."

After the commissioning ceremony for Justice Oh, President Moon said, "The era of four female Supreme Court justices has officially begun. Since they have shown great interest in the vulnerable and minorities and have made good rulings for human rights, I expect progressive rulings regarding the vulnerable and minorities from the Supreme Court."

Justice Oh said, "Photos of justices are hung in the Supreme Court, but the photo of former Justice Kim Young-ran, the first female Supreme Court justice, was only hung halfway through. As one of the still very few female justices, I feel a heavy sense of responsibility."

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