Qualification of justice nominees questioned

Kim Shin

Two of four justice nominees are under fire for religious inclination, abuse of authority or fake residence registration ahead of their National Assembly confirmation hearing.

The main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP) denounced Kim Shin, 55, chief of the Ulsan District Court, for references to Christianity during trials he presided over.

The DUP also criticized Kim Byeong-hwa, 57, head of the Incheon District Prosecutors’ Office, for asking for favors from military manpower officials on behalf of his son.

The Assembly will start a four-day hearing today to confirm President Lee Myung-bak’s justice nominees — the two Kims, Kim Chang-suk, 56, head of the Supreme Court Library, and Ko Young-hwan, 57, director of the Court Administration Office. If confirmed, they will replace four retiring justices.

Kim Byeong-hwa

The DUP said it will look into every detail to check whether the nominees are qualified for the posts.

The party claims that Kim Shin, a devout Christian, expressed religious opinions in three separate cases over conflicts between pastors and believers.

In a 2006 case in which a congregation member filed a civil suit against his church’s pastor, Kim asked both of them to reconcile in front of him at the trial, and also ordered them to say “Amen” as a sign of reconciliation.

“It is irrational for a judge to express Christian-based ideas to settle a legal conflict,” said Rep. Choi Jae-chun, a DUP member who will participate in the confirmation hearing.

The lawmaker added that Kim ruled in favor of a pastor, who was indicted in 2009 for evading taxes after purchasing land. The pastor claimed he bought the land to build a church, which is exempt from tax, and Kim “simply” believed what he said, according to Choi.

The justice nominee also brought a member of a church and a pastor into his office during a trial in 2010 and asked them to reconcile.

“Article 103 of the Constitution stipulates that a judge presides over a trial based on the law, and therefore Kim’s act violated the article,” Choi said.

The DUP has criticized Kim Byeong-hwa for abusing his authority in asking officials at the Military Manpower Administration to help his son get posted at the Seoul Central District Court as alternative military service.

His son served as an office worker at the court. The DUP claims that Kim allegedly asked for favors from military officials in advance, although the posting should have been selected through a lottery.

The minority party also pointed out that Kim falsely registered his residence as Seoul between 1988 and 1992, even though he actually lived in Ulsan and Busan at the time. It suspects that Kim faked his residence registration for property speculation.

He admitted this fault, but said the change in his residential registration was to purchase a newly-built apartment in the capital. He also dismissed the allegations of speculation. <The Korea Times/Yi Whan-woo>

news@theasian.asia