Supreme Court Justice Roh Kyung-pil, 62, made the remarks during his inauguration as minister of the National Court Administration at the Supreme Court in Seoul on Tuesday.
“External pressure and burdens that make it difficult for judges to conduct independent trials and for court members to perform their duties in a stable manner are increasing,” Roh said, according to a report by Asia Today translated by UPI.
“The National Court Administration will provide firm support so that all members of the judiciary can confidently perform their duties in accordance with laws and principles,” Roh said.
Roh also pledged to strengthen personnel and material resources for judges and court employees working in difficult positions. “The more demanding the position, the more we must reduce the burden, even slightly, so they can concentrate on their work,” he said. “We will expand the necessary personnel and physical foundations and develop effective support measures.”
The appointment filled a position that had remained vacant for about four months after former court administration chief Park Young-jae resigned in February. Park stepped down in protest after the ruling bloc pushed three controversial judiciary bills through the National Assembly. The measures include creating a criminal offense for intentionally distorting the law, establishing a system allowing constitutional challenges to court judgments, and expanding the number of Supreme Court justices.
The head of the National Court Administration oversees judicial administration under the direction of the chief justice and supervises court administrative operations and personnel. The position does not involve directing judges’ decisions in individual trials but carries significant responsibility for the judiciary’s budget, staffing and administrative policies.
Roh was born in Haenam County in South Jeolla Province. He graduated from Gwangju High School and Seoul National University’s College of Law. He was appointed as a judge in 1997 and later served as a Supreme Court research judge, a Seoul High Court judge and a presiding judge at the Gwangju and Suwon high courts. He was appointed to the Supreme Court in August 2024.