[2026 Parliamentary Audit] Daegu District Court Chief Judge: "Supreme Court and Constitutional Court Justice Couple Could Face Conflict of Interest"

On Son Bonggi's National Assembly consent process falling through: "It is regrettable"

Daegu District Court Chief Judge Kang Dongmyeong said, “I think there is a possibility” of a conflict of interest if Seoul High Court Senior Judge Kim Mingi, nominated as a candidate to succeed former Supreme Court Justice Noh Taeak, is appointed to the Supreme Court, given that his spouse, Constitutional Court Justice Oh Youngjun, serves on the Constitutional Court.

Kang Dongmyeong, chief judge of the Daegu District Court, answers questions during a parliamentary audit by the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee at the Daegu High Court on the 20th. The audit covered the Daegu High Court, district, family and bankruptcy courts; the Busan High Court, district, family and bankruptcy courts; the Ulsan District and Family Courts; and the Changwon District Court. Yonhap News.

Chief Judge Kang made the remarks in response to People Power Party lawmaker Park Hyungsoo, who pointed out that introducing a system of constitutional complaints against court rulings could make Supreme Court decisions subject to Constitutional Court review, raising issues of recusal and disqualification. The remarks came during an October 20 parliamentary audit by the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee of Daegu High Court, Busan High Court and other courts, held at Daegu High Court in Suseong-gu, Daegu.

Asked whether he agreed that Kim Mingi should not become a Supreme Court justice if the spouse of Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Kipyo is a Constitutional Court justice, Kang replied, “A conflict of interest could arise.”

Asked about Son Bonggi, a presiding judge at Daegu District Court who has been unable to proceed through the National Assembly consent process since the Chief Justice nominated him, People Power Party lawmaker Park Hyungsoo said, “It is regrettable.” Asked whether he considered Son to lack the qualifications and ability to serve as a Supreme Court justice, Kang replied, “He is widely recognized as an outstanding judge among regional judges.”

Chief Judge Kang said, “A renowned candidate for Supreme Court justice has emerged from the region and is receiving such appalling treatment, yet [the Daegu courts] are quiet as a mouse.” Asked by People Power Party lawmaker Kim Taegyu whether judges should collectively voice their opinions, he said that the Chief Justice had reviewed the legal issues and fully stated his position during the Supreme Court’s parliamentary audit, adding, “I don’t think it would be appropriate for me to comment on that matter here.”

Earlier, the Supreme Court Justice Candidate Recommendation Committee recommended four candidates in January 2026, including Presiding Judge Son and Senior Judge Kim, to succeed former Supreme Court Justice Noh Taeak. Chief Justice Cho nominated Presiding Judge Son in August 2026. However, President Lee Jaemyung rejected the nomination and requested that another candidate be nominated. Chief Justice Cho refused to renominate a candidate, saying there was no specific constitutional basis or reason for doing so.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.