Seoul Bar Association Selects 72 Outstanding Judges... Kwon Soonhyung and Kim Juwan Receive Perfect Scores
by Byun Seonjin
Published 27 Jan.2026 14:25(KST)
Average Score Rises Slightly to 84.188 Points
Low-Performing Judges Average Only 37 Points
Gap of Over 50 Points With Outstanding Judges
Authoritarian Attitudes Persist: "I Even Write the Rulings Myself"
Seoul Bar Association Urges Judiciary to Take Caution
The Seoul Bar Association (President Cho Soonyeol) released the results of an analysis of 23,293 judicial evaluation forms completed by 2,449 of its members on January 27. According to the findings, the average score for 1,341 judges who were subject to valid evaluation this year was 84.188 points, a slight increase from last year’s 83.789 points.
Of these, the Seoul Bar Association selected 72 judges as "Outstanding Judges" for either scoring above 95 points or receiving high marks from a large number of lawyers.
Kwon Soonhyung of the Seoul High Court and Kim Juwan of the Uijeongbu District Court Goyang Branch both received a perfect average score of 100, earning the highest evaluations. The outstanding judges received high marks for impartial hearings, thorough trial preparation, attentive listening, and consideration.
On the other hand, 20 judges were classified as "low-performing judges" for receiving low scores. The average score for these low-performing judges was 37.333 points, showing a gap of more than 50 points compared to the outstanding judges (94.713 points).
In particular, Judge A of the Seoul Eastern District Court was dishonorably listed as a low-performing judge five times over the past six years. Judge B of a metropolitan court was also named a low-performing judge three or more times within the past five years.
Among the low-performing judges, there were cases where judges pressured parties by saying, "I even write the rulings myself," or displayed authoritarian attitudes by threatening to penalize parties in the judgment if they failed to meet the deadline for submitting briefs.
The Seoul Bar Association stated, "We urge the judiciary to take special care to ensure that defendants' rights are not violated," adding, "The evaluation results will be delivered to the National Court Administration and the chief judges of each court, and individual notifications will also be sent to the relevant judges."
Below is the list of the 72 Outstanding Judges
▲ Kang Sebin, Suwon District Court (Suwon Family Court) Anyang Branch
▲ Kang Jihyun, Seoul Western District Court
▲ Kang Jinmyung, Daejeon District Court (Daejeon Family Court) Cheonan Branch
▲ Kwon Kihun, Seoul High Court
▲ Kwon Soonhyung, Seoul High Court
▲ Kim Kwangnam, Seoul High Court
▲ Kim Dooil, Jeonju District Court Namwon Branch
▲ Kim Byungman, Daejeon District Court
▲ Kim Sangyeon, Seoul Southern District Court
▲ Kim Areum, Seoul Central District Court
▲ Kim Juwan, Uijeongbu District Court Goyang Branch
▲ Kim Juncheol, Suwon District Court (Suwon Family Court) Anyang Branch
▲ Kim Jinsun, Daejeon District Court (Daejeon Family Court) Gongju Branch
▲ Kim Taekyun, Seoul Northern District Court
▲ Kim Hyeryeong, Seoul Central District Court
▲ Kim Heesoo, Uijeongbu District Court Goyang Branch
▲ Na Sanghun, Daejeon District Court (Daejeon Family Court) Hongseong Branch
▲ Ryu Jimi, Seoul Central District Court
▲ Min Dalgi, Busan High Court Changwon (Outside Panel)
▲ Park Kwangseo, Suwon High Court
▲ Park Sangeon, Seoul Central District Court
▲ Park Okhee, Seoul Central District Court
▲ Park Jeongje, Seoul High Court
▲ Park Juwon, Suwon District Court (Suwon Family Court) Seongnam Branch
▲ Park Hyungjun, Seoul High Court
▲ Ban Hyorim, Busan District Court
▲ Baek Kangjin, Seoul High Court
▲ Baek Hyomin, Daejeon District Court
▲ Seo Jiweon, Seoul Administrative Court
▲ Seong Jaehyuk, Seoul Central District Court
▲ Seong Jungyu, Seoul Western District Court
▲ Song Hyeonjik, Daejeon District Court
▲ Oh Mingwan, Seoul Administrative Court
▲ Oh Changseop, Uijeongbu District Court
▲ Woo Jeongmin, Ulsan District Court
▲ Yoo Seungwon, Chuncheon District Court
▲ Yoon Sangil, Seoul Administrative Court
▲ Yoon Seungeun, Seoul High Court
▲ Yoon Jongseop, Suwon District Court (Suwon Family Court) Ansan Branch
▲ Lee Geunyoung, Chuncheon District Court
▲ Lee Suhwan, Incheon District Court
▲ Lee Seungho, Chuncheon District Court Wonju Branch
▲ Lee Yeonkyung, Incheon District Court
▲ Lee Yerim, Seoul Central District Court
▲ Lee Yesul, Seoul High Court
▲ Lee Wonjung, Seoul Western District Court
▲ Lee Jaeshin, Seoul High Court
▲ Lee Jeongmok, Daegu District Court (Daegu Family Court) Andong Branch
▲ Lee Jeonghun, Uijeongbu District Court Goyang Branch
▲ Lee Jihyun, Seoul Central District Court
▲ Lee Jihyun, Suwon Family Court
▲ Lee Jinjae, Busan District Court Western Branch
▲ Lee Hyunkyung, Seoul Central District Court
▲ Lee Hyunjong, Seoul Central District Court
▲ Lim Sujeong, Busan Family Court
▲ Jang Seojin, Seoul Family Court
▲ Jeong Seonghwa, Seoul Southern District Court
▲ Jeong Seyoung, Chuncheon District Court Yeongwol Branch
▲ Jeong Seunghwa, Seoul Central District Court
▲ Jeong Yeonju, Seoul Central District Court
▲ Jo Yuri, Suwon District Court
▲ Jo Jeongmin, Incheon District Court (Incheon Family Court) Bucheon Branch
▲ Jo Junho, Daejeon District Court
▲ Choi Giwon, Seoul Northern District Court
▲ Choi Mibok, Seoul Rehabilitation Court
▲ Choi Miyoung, Gwangju Family Court
▲ Choi Sujin, Seoul Administrative Court
▲ Choi Heejeong, Incheon Family Court
▲ Han Seongjin, Seoul Central District Court
▲ Han Jeongseok, Seoul Southern District Court
▲ Ho Seongho, Seoul Administrative Court
▲ Hwang Yeo Jin, Seoul Southern District Court
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