Kim Sung-soo Issues Apology Over 'Brother-in-Law Favor' Allegations... Rival Parties Clash

[Anchor]

Supreme Court Justice nominee Kim Sung-soo stepped up to the National Assembly's verification stage as the first runner in this week's confirmation hearing political landscape. Rival parties clashed over Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae's nomination of the Supreme Court justice candidate and President Lee Jae-myung's trial issues. Nominee Kim expressed regret over suspicions that he lived in an apartment in Seoul's Gangnam district at a price lower than market value through a "brother-in-law favor."

Reporter Kim Bo-mi has the details.

[Reporter]

Appearing at the National Assembly confirmation hearing today (September 14), Supreme Court Justice nominee Kim Sung-soo has lived in an apartment in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, owned by his brother-in-law since 2011, and another apartment in Dogok-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, leased by his brother-in-law since 2021.

Regarding suspicions of gift tax evasion for paying rent much lower than market value, nominee Kim offered an apology, stating that he is currently going through the tax payment procedures.

[Kim Sung-soo / Supreme Court Justice Nominee: As we had agreed to share financial procurement costs (with my brother-in-law), I did not think of it as receiving a gift, but I consider it regrettable.]

The Democratic Party pointed out that the Supreme Court remanded President Lee Jae-myung's public official election act violation case with a guilty intent last May, arguing that "Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae undermined political neutrality," to which nominee Kim gave the following evaluation:

[Chae Hyun-il / Democratic Party Lawmaker: In Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae's case, the remand was processed lightning-fast in just nine days after referral to the full bench. Is that possible based on 28 years of judicial experience?]

[Kim Sung-soo / Supreme Court Justice Nominee: One could certainly say that such procedural progress was somewhat unusual...]

In response, the People Power Party questioned what was unusual about it, noting that the Supreme Court upheld the principle of prompt trials.

[Joo Jin-woo / People Power Party Lawmaker: Giving answers that align with power from the get-go like that, how can you become a Supreme Court justice and operate without reading the room of those in power?]

[Kim Sung-soo / Supreme Court Justice Nominee: Please understand that I am acknowledging or sympathizing with the fact that such arguments exist...]

Pan-ruling bloc lawmakers argued that Chief Justice Cho disregarded the convention of prior consultation with the president regarding the nomination of Supreme Court justice candidates. Nominee Kim remarked, "There is room for criticism," but added, "I believe he made an appropriate decision as an administrative head of the judiciary."

(Photo: Yonhap News / Video reporting: Lee Seung-hwan, Shin Dong-hwan / Video editing: Won Hyung-hee)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.