What makes the chief justice nominee naïve?

Lee Gyun-ryong, a senior judge at the Seoul High Court nominated as the next Supreme Court Chief Justice, claimed he was not aware his son was not entitled to national health insurance coverage when he worked abroad.

Democratic Party (DP) Rep. Seo Dong-yong implored how a judge could be so ignorant of local laws while grilling the candidate during the confirmation hearing.

Lee answered he was not fully aware of the illegality because he had not lived abroad.

Lee admitted he had listed his son as a dependent eligible for a national health insurance policy while he worked for a U.S. investment bank during the hearing. But he denied the misdeed was intentional. He apologized if he had violated the law for failing to report and pay gift tax after wiring 68 million won ($51,166) to her daughter’s U.S. account over five years. Gift of any money beyond 50 million won to adult children across 10 years is liable for reporting and tax. Most Koreans are aware of the tax code and abide it.

Lee also apologized for his “negligence” in omitting to report his holding of unlisted stocks worth 1 billion won in assets disclosure by senior government employees. All high-level government employees under the Public Service Ethics Act must register the appraisal value of unlisted stock assets. Lee gave a similar account for failing to report her daughter’s deposits in an overseas account, although she remains as his dependent. DP Rep. Park Yong-jin asked Lee if he had ruled not guilty to suspects on trial if they claimed they had not been aware they were breaking the law during his 33 years on the bench. Lee answered he had not and again apologized. During the two-day confirmation hearing, apologetic and remorseful responses had been numerously repeated.

Those responsible for judiciary affairs are the guardians of the law and morality. Unintentional lawbreaking can be excused for common citizens but not for a public servant in charge of upholding law and order. Lawyer Zoe Baird had to surrender former President Bill Clinton’s nomination as the attorney general due to the so-called nannygate after she was accused of having employed illegal immigrants as the nanny and driver for her child. The Clinton administration and Democrats faced a firestorm when they initially took the matter lightly.

The public has been waiting for a new chief justice who could restore the credibility of the top court with high morality and capability after frustration from long-delayed trials and political bias under outgoing Chief Justice Kim Myeong-su. But the nominee by President Yoon Suk Yeol so far has been disappointing. The National Assembly would vote on whether to confirm the nomination. Lee must try to find a way to regain the confidence of the people, as normalization of the court relies on recovery in public trust.