Lee considering 2 senior judges, his defense lawyer as candidates for Constitutional Court justices

President Lee Jae-myung delivers a speech at Seoul National Cemetery on the celebration of the 70th Memorial Day, June 6. Korea Times photo by Wang Tae-seok

President Lee Jae-myung is considering nominating two sitting senior judges and a lawyer who served as his defense counsel in recent trials as candidates for two Constitutional Court justice positions, officials familiar with the matter said Sunday.

Presiding Judge Oh Young-joon of the Seoul High Court and Judge Wi Kwang-ha of the same court are under review for the nomination, according to a presidential official.

Lee Seung-yeop, a judge-turned-lawyer, is also among the potential candidates.

"It is true that they are subject to the nomination review, and we're listening to various opinions about them," an official said.

The possible nomination of Lee is sparking debate, as he previously served as the president's defense lawyer in a series of trials concerning allegations of election violations and unauthorized remittances to North Korea.

The trials have been put on hold due to a South Korean president being immune from criminal prosecution while in office.

The opposition People Power Party (PPP) criticized the presidential office over the potential nomination of Lee, saying the move would "amount to turning the judiciary into a private law firm."

"The biggest reason why half of the people didn't vote for President Lee Jae-myung was the suspicion and fear that he might exert influence over the judiciary if he gained control of the executive branch in addition to the legislature," PPP spokesperson Seo Ji-young said.

"To ease such concerns at the start of the administration, it would be appropriate to withdraw and halt any personnel appointments that appear almost deliberately intended to reinforce public distrust," Seo added.

A presidential official dismissed the criticism of a conflict of interest from the potential nomination of Lee.

"We don't understand what the conflict of interest is supposed to be. Does it mean anyone who worked on the president's cases can't take a public job? Or what exactly is the conflict?" the official added.

The nominations are meant to appoint successors to two justices who retired in April.

On Thursday, the president withdrew the nominations of two candidates selected by former acting leader Han Duck-soo of the previous government during the leadership vacuum in the wake of former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law imposition. Lee Jae-myung's office said Han's nominations were an overreach of authority.