Yoo Nam-seok Retires as Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court... Emphasizing "Active yet Flexible Response"

After completing his six-year term, Yoo Nam-seok, Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, who retired on the 10th, urged to adopt an active yet flexible attitude in response to the rapidly changing social environment.

At the retirement ceremony held at the Constitutional Court on the morning of the same day, Chief Justice Yoo recalled, "The past six years serving as a Justice and Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court were truly an honorable and precious time. At the same time, it was a period of deep anguish and reflection for upright constitutional adjudication."

On the 10th, Yoo Nam-seok, Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, is delivering his retirement speech at the retirement ceremony held at the Constitutional Court in Jaedong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Constitutional Court

He said, "I seriously contemplated how universal values such as human dignity, freedom, and equality should be concretely realized in this era and land, and how to balance the diverse values and interests expressed in a pluralistic democratic society in light of the Constitution. Thanks to the dedication of the Court members, we were able to make many decisions, but now we can only humbly await the evaluation of the people and history."

Chief Justice Yoo stated, "The Constitutional Court is currently facing a very important period," adding, "Diverse values in our society are sharply conflicting, polarization is intensifying, and social realities and the times are rapidly changing."

He continued, "As a result, constitutional issues that were not anticipated in the past have arisen, and cases requiring resolution of conflicts in values and interests through constitutional adjudication have increased."

Chief Justice Yoo emphasized, "In this era of change and challenge, the Constitutional Court must uphold the values of fundamental human rights, democracy, and the rule of law?the foundational pillars of the constitutional order?and adopt an active yet flexible approach to the various rapidly evolving social issues. The current challenges are opportunities for us to further develop."

He also said, "Because constitutional provisions exist over the flow of time, any provision functions as a norm to resolve new issues that were difficult to foresee at the time of enactment. This is precisely why the law is often compared to a 'living tree.'"

Finally, Chief Justice Yoo stated, "By interpreting and applying the Constitution, which embodies the will of the people, centered on constitutional values and principles, in accordance with current scientific, technological, economic, and social circumstances, the Court can contribute to social integration and serve as a guide for the future. Through this, we can create a country where the 'safety, freedom, and happiness of ourselves and our descendants,' as declared in the preamble of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, are forever secured."

Chief Justice Yoo was appointed as a Justice of the Constitutional Court on November 11, 2017, nominated by President Moon Jae-in, and inaugurated as the 7th Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court on September 21, 2018.

President Yoon Suk-yeol nominated Justice Lee Jong-seok as Yoo’s successor, but the parliamentary confirmation process has been delayed, with a confirmation hearing scheduled for the 13th.

With the vacancy of the Chief Justice position starting from the 11th, the Constitutional Court must convene a meeting of the Justices within seven days according to the Constitutional Court Act to elect an acting Chief Justice. Until then, Senior Justice Lee Eun-ae will serve as the acting Chief Justice.

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