Who is the New Chief Justice of South Korea's Constitutional Court?

Seoul, June 26 (NationPress) South Korean President Lee Jae Myung announced on Thursday the nomination of former Supreme Court Justice Kim Sang-hwan to lead the Constitutional Court, according to the presidential office.

Justice Kim is set to succeed Moon Hyung-bae, the acting court chief who retired in April.

Additionally, Lee appointed Oh Young-joon, the current presiding judge of the Seoul High Court, to join the court's nine-member panel, as reported by presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik.

"These nominations represent the new government's initial stride towards revitalizing the Constitutional Court," Kang stated.

"They are designed to put an end to the perilous efforts that have sought to undermine the court, while also working to bolster public confidence and the independence of its decisions."

The court gained attention when it upheld the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol in April due to his unsuccessful martial law attempt in December, which led to some judges facing intimidation from Yoon's supporters prior to the ruling.

Furthermore, Lee nominated Lim Kwang-hyun, a lawmaker from the ruling Democratic Party, to serve as commissioner of the National Tax Service.

Lim previously held the position of Commissioner of the Seoul Regional Tax Service and was elected to the National Assembly last year through a proportional representation slot. If his appointment goes through, Lim will be the first active lawmaker to head the National Tax Service, as reported by Yonhap.

All nominees are required to undergo parliamentary confirmation hearings before receiving formal appointment from the President, although they can assume their roles without parliamentary consent.

On June 23, Lee Jae Myung appointed five-term lawmaker Ahn Gyu-back as Defence Minister, marking the first time in 64 years that a civilian has been nominated for this position.

Lee's choice of Ahn aligns with his election commitment to reform the military, a vital promise made during his presidential campaign to mend a nation disrupted by the fleeting imposition of martial law in December under the ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol.

The military faced scrutiny after Yoon dispatched troops to the National Assembly when he declared martial law on December 3, allegedly to prevent lawmakers from blocking his brief decree. Yoon was removed from office in April following the martial law controversy.

Ahn is a seasoned politician affiliated with the Democratic Party, having primarily served on the defence subcommittee of the National Assembly. If confirmed, he will become the first civilian Defence Minister since 1961, when former President Park Chung-hee took power through a military coup.

"As the first civilian Defence Minister in 64 years, Ahn is anticipated to lead and supervise the military's transformation that was engaged during the martial law period," Kang mentioned in a press briefing.

Lee also selected former Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun as South Korea's leading diplomat, revealing his nominations for 11 Cabinet positions, which include ministers for the environment, science, and labour, in the latest updates since he took office on June 4.