Yoon names new Supreme Court chief justice, industry minister

Politics

Published: 22 Aug. 2023, 16:22 Updated: 22 Aug. 2023, 17:17

Yoon names new Supreme Court chief justice, industry minister

Bang Moon-kyu, minister of government policy coordination, speaks to reporters at the Yongsan presidential office in central Seoul after he was tapped by President Yoon Suk Yeol as the new industry minister Tuesday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

President Yoon Suk Yeol named Lee Gyun-ryong, a senior judge at Seoul High Court, as the new Supreme Court chief justice Tuesday.

Yoon also tapped Bang Moon-kyu, minister of government policy coordination, as his new minister of trade, industry and energy, according to the presidential office.

Lee, 61, known as a conservative judge, will succeed Kim Myeong-su, the current chief justice since September 2017, when his five-year term ends on Sept. 24.

Kim Dae-ki, presidential chief of staff, said in a briefing Tuesday morning that the chief justice nominee has spent some 32 years presiding over trials and conducting judicial research, praising him as a "trustworthy judge who has taken the lead in advancing the human rights of the socially underprivileged."

Kim said Lee has made rulings that helped promote laborers' rights and protect people with disabilities.

"Through his trial experiences, we believe him to be the right person to lead the judiciary as a chief justice who listens to voices of society based on principles, justice and common sense," Kim said.

Lee Gyun-ryong, Supreme Court chief justice nominee

A native of Haman County in South Gyeongsang, Lee graduated from Seoul National University School of Law and began his judiciary career in 1990.

Lee has previously served in a range of judicial posts, including at Seoul Central District Court, Gwangju High Court and Daejeon High Court.

He is known to be well-versed in international law, including Japanese law, having taken part in an overseas study program at Keio University in Japan in 1994.

Though Lee has served as a Supreme Court trial researcher, he has no prior experience serving on the top court bench, a career path he shares with only two out of his 14 predecessors. Current Chief Justice Kim likewise had no experience serving as a Supreme Court justice before being appointed to the nation's top judicial post.

Bang, 61, will replace the current Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Lee Chang-yang, announced the presidential office the same day.

"Lee was determined to be the right person to carry out state affairs in the industrial sector, such as in regulatory innovation and export promotion, based on his broad understanding and coordination ability in overall state affairs as a well-versed economic bureaucrat," Presidential Chief of Staff Kim said in a separate briefing Tuesday afternoon.

Prior to being tapped by the Yoon administration as minister for government policy coordination, a post under the prime minister's office, in June of last year, Bang previously served as head of the state-run Export-Import Bank of Korea, or Eximbank, from 2019 to 2022.

Bang was born in Suwon, Gyeonggi and received his bachelor's degree in English literature from Seoul National University. He received a master's degree in public administration from Harvard Kennedy School and his doctorate degree also in public administration from Sungkyungkwan University.

As a career public official, Bang served in various Finance Ministry and Agriculture posts and has served as a vice health minister and a second vice finance minister. He has also worked for the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

"With the rapidly changing economy, uncertainties in our economy, trade and investment environment and energy and resource policies will increase, and at times like this, strategic industrial policies are important," Bang told reporters at the Yongsan presidential office following his nomination. "I feel a sense of responsibility entrusted with an important mission at a time like this, and I will do my best so that the Industry Ministry can lead the world market."

The latest reshuffle comes as Yoon has pushed to speed along his administration's energy policies, including nuclear power plant projects.

Lee and Bang's appointments are subject to a parliamentary confirmation hearing.

First Vice Finance Minister Bang Ki-sun, a career economic bureaucrat, was named as the new government policy coordination minister to replace the industry minister nominee, said the presidential office.

Kim Byoung-hwan, presidential secretary for economy and finance, was named first vice finance minister, and Ko Ki-dong, a deputy mayor of Sejong City, was named as vice interior minister.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]