Yoon names new chief justice, industry minister

Presidential Chief of Staff Kim Dae-ki, left, introduces Trade, Industry and Energy Minister nominee Bang Moon-kyu, center, new Government Policy Coordination Minister Bahng Ki-sun during a press briefing at the presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

President turns his attention back on domestic economy

By Nam Hyun-woo

President Yoon Suk Yeol nominated Judge Lee Gyun-ryong as the chief justice of the Supreme Court, and Policy Coordination Minister Bang Moon-kyu as the new industry minister, Tuesday.

Lee and Bang were among Yoon's two new minister nominees and a number of vice ministers.

“For over 30 years, Lee has been dedicated to the field of judicature (administration of justice) and legal research, acknowledged by his rulings in advancing the rights of people with disabilities and has championed the protection of workers' rights,” presidential Chief of Staff Kim Dae-ki said in a press briefing.

The new Chief Justice nominee, currently a judge at the Seoul High Court, will replace outgoing Chief Justice Kim Myeong-su, whose six-year term is set to end on Sept. 24.

“Based on his extensive judicial experience, he is expected to be listening to diverse voices in society and commit himself to principles, justice and common sense to lead the country's judiciary as the chief justice,” the chief of staff added.

His appointment is subject to a parliamentary confirmation hearing, followed by a vote during a plenary session.

Lee is a graduate of the Seoul National University School of Law and has served as a judge at various courts, including the Seoul Central District Court and the Gwangju High Court. If confirmed, he would be the second Supreme Court chief justice who has no experience of serving as a justice at the top court like his predecessor.

Lee's nomination is interpreted as Yoon's ushering in the reform of the judicial system, as the judge has been critical of the judicature during his predecessor's term.

In his contribution piece to a local lawyers' magazine in 2022, he said, “trust in the judiciary has plummeted, and the authority of the courts has eroded to the point of becoming a subject of mockery” and “the credibility of the legal process has been compromised, and doubts now surround the integrity of trials.”

Compared to the incumbent Chief Justice, Lee is viewed as a conservative, contributing to the Supreme Court's right-wing orientation. Until last month, progressive justices were the majority in the 13-justice Supreme Court. However, with the replacement of two justices on August 18, the balance has since shifted to seven moderate or conservative justices and six progressive justices.

Supreme Court Chief Justice nominee Lee Gyun-ryong, left, speaks during a National Assembly audit in this Oct. 8, 2021 photo. Yonhap

Hours later, Yoon also appointed a new industry minister in an apparent sign that the president is turning his attention toward the domestic economy after spending a lot of time and effort on international diplomacy.

“Bang is a career economy bureaucrat with experience as the second vice minister of finance, vice minister of health and welfare and the chairman of the Export-Import Bank of Korea,” Kim said.

“Based on his understanding of state affairs and coordination skills, he is expected to serve his role of nurturing key industries well, lifting regulations, expanding exports and other industry policies.”

The replacement is interpreted as a presidential reprimand toward the ministry for its reluctance in carrying out Yoon's key industrial policies, such as scrapping the previous administration's direction of phasing out nuclear power from the country's energy portfolio.

In May, President Yoon sent his then-secretary for industrial policy Kang Kyung-sung to serve as the second vice industry minister, after openly criticizing the ministry's efforts to “normalize” the country's nuclear energy policy. Along with the nuclear policy, the ministry's reluctance in other pending issues, such as restructuring the loss-making Korea Electric Power Corp, has been mentioned as the key reason for the replacement.

“The policy coordination minister has been meeting with the president on a weekly basis, so he has a deep understanding of the president's policy direction and philosophy,” a senior official at the presidential office said.

“Since Bang has also been addressing industry policies, we have high expectations.”

As Bang moves to the industry ministry, the First Vice Minister of Economy and Finance Bang Ki-sun will assume the position of the policy coordination minister. He is also a career bureaucrat in the field of economy, serving key positions at the finance ministry and the Asian Development Bank.

The first vice minister of economy post will be filled by Kim Byoung-hwan, the presidential secretary for economic and financial affairs.

“Following the trilateral summit between Korea, the United States and Japan at Camp David, we believe the country's national security and foreign relations are now on the right track,” the senior official said.

“And the president is now focusing on the economy, by naming experts from the finance ministry at the key positions.”

Along with them, Yoon replaced National Balanced Development Leading City Administrator Lee Sang-rae with Construction Industry Guarantee CEO Kim Hyeong-ryeol, in what appears to be a punitive measure on the outgoing administrator, who was in charge of the development projects surrounding Sejong and Osong, North Chungcheong Province.

Last month, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo requested Yoon to take punitive actions against Lee for his failure in supervising the construction process of an underpass in the Osong area, after the illegal and sloppy construction of the underpass contributed to the death of 14 people during a heavy downpour last month.

In Tuesday's shakeup, Minister of Gender Equality and Family Kim Hyun-sook was not included. She has been in the hot seat over the country's unsuccessful hosting of the 25th World Scout Jamboree earlier this month.

State auditors are investigating the ministry and other government organizations for the sloppy management of the event, while Kim, who is one of the co-chairs of the organizing committee, caused controversies over her remarks and behavior by dodging the responsibilities of the setbacks during the event.

The senior official said, “chances are slim for another Cabinet shakeup this month.”