Regular Personnel Changes for 813 Judges... 'Retention Controversy' Yoon Jongseop and Kim Miri Transferred

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Chief Judge Yoon Jongseop (52, Judicial Research and Training Institute Class 26) and Chief Judge Kim Miri (53, Class 26), who have been controversially retained at the Seoul Central District Court for a long time, will be moving to different courts.

On the 4th, the Supreme Court announced the regular personnel changes for 813 judges including chief judges of district courts and below. The effective date is the 21st of this month.

First, Chief Judge Yoon of the 36th Criminal Division at Seoul Central District Court will move to Seoul Western District Court as a chief judge without completing the first trial of former Deputy Director Lim Jongheon of the Court Administration Office, who is accused of 'judicial corruption.' He has been presiding over cases involving judges implicated in the judicial corruption scandal and has been controversially retained for an unusually long period of seven years at Seoul Central District Court since 2016. Judges Kim Yongsin and Song Inseok, who served as associate judges in the same division, will also move to Gwangju District Court and Daejeon District Court/Daejeon Family Court Gongju Branch, respectively.

Chief Judge Kim Miri, who has also been controversially working at Seoul Central District Court for five years since 2018, will move to Seoul Northern District Court. She had been presiding over cases such as the former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk’s case and the Blue House Ulsan mayoral election interference suspicion case, took a leave of absence, and upon return has been working in the civil division.

The 21st Criminal Division at Seoul Central District Court (Chief Judge Ma Seongyoung, Judges Kim Sangyeon and Jang Yongbeom), currently presiding over the former Minister Cho’s case, and the 25-2 Criminal Division (Chief Judge Park Jeongje, Judges Park Sarang and Kwon Seongsu), handling the illegal merger suspicion case of Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, will continue to work at Seoul Central District Court. Chief Judge Yang Cheolhan (54, Class 27) of the 22nd Criminal Division, presiding over the 'Daejang-dong development preferential treatment suspicion' case, will also remain. However, due to changes in case assignments, there is a possibility of moving to another division within the same court in the future.

The Supreme Court stated, "To enhance the transparency and objectivity of judicial personnel appointments and reduce the discretion of the Chief Justice, nine personnel matters among selective appointments underwent review by the Judicial Personnel Subcommittee and consultation with the Judicial Administration Advisory Council," and "experienced judges and female judges who have diligently performed trial duties for a long time and earned strong trust within the courts were appointed as senior chief judges and branch chiefs at various courts."

Meanwhile, a total of 52 judges retired. Chief Judges Han Won-gyo and Lee Jonghwan of Seoul Administrative Court, who presided over cases applying for suspension of enforcement of the vaccination certificate and negative test confirmation system (quarantine pass) and made some partial acceptance decisions, are retiring with honor. Chief Judge Shin Gwangryeol of Seoul High Court, who was acquitted after being indicted on judicial corruption charges, is also leaving the court.

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