August 27
SOUTH KOREA:
Assembly Approves First Female Supreme Court Justice
The National Assembly on Monday approved Kim Young-ran, 48, as the
nation's 1st female Supreme Court justice by a landslide vote.
Of the 271 lawmakers participating in the vote on the bill on Kim's
nomination, 208 voted in favor, far more than the simple majority of 150
in the 299-member Assembly. 61 voted against, with 2 invalid. The 1st
female justice in the nation's top court was expected to easily win
lawmakers' approval as she showed her suitability for the post in the Aug.
11 parliamentary confirmation hearing.
In particular, she has received wide support from civic groups for her
position on controversial issues including the anti-communist National
Security Law and the death penalty. During the hearing, the justice
nominee clearly expressed her opinion that the security law should be
revised or abolished due to considerations of pubic opinion, and that
capital punishment be dropped.
Kim will replace Cho Moo-je, who retired last Tuesday after serving 6
years as Supreme Court justice. Kim previously worked as a senior judge at
the Taejon High Court.
President Roh Moo-hyun nominated Kim for the post at the request of Choi
Jong-young, chief justice of the Supreme Court, last month.
Kim's appointment is seen as part of efforts by the court to meet public
demand for judicial reform. The court has also been urged to better
protect the basic rights of society's minority groups, including women,
children and the disabled.
"As a young woman, I think I was considered suitable for reflecting the
different opinions among various kinds of people," Kim said in the
hearing. "I will do my best to meet the needs of the times by protecting
minority groups in society."
Kim, who graduated from Seoul National University's law school with former
Justice Minister Kang Kum-sil, is recognized as one of the most prominent
judges advocating the rights of minority groups.
(source: Korea Times)
