Kim Sung-soo Expresses 'Regret' Over Brother-in-Law Favor Controversy… Rival Parties Clash

[Anchor]

During yesterday's (the 14th) confirmation hearing, Supreme Court Justice nominee Kim Sung-soo expressed regret over allegations that he lived in a Gangnam apartment through his brother-in-law's favor and evaded gift taxes. He also evaluated that the Supreme Court's decision to remand President Lee Jae-myung's case with a guilty intent, just nine days after referring it to the full bench, was somewhat unusual.

Reporter Kim Bo-mi has the details.

[Reporter]

Attending the National Assembly confirmation hearing, Supreme Court Justice nominee Kim Sung-soo lived in an apartment in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, owned by his brother-in-law starting in 2011, and later in an apartment in Dogok-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, which his brother-in-law rented, starting in 2021.

Regarding suspicions of gift tax evasion due to paying rent significantly lower than market value, nominee Kim apologized, stating that the tax payment procedures are underway.

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

In May of last year, the Democratic Party argued that Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-de undermined political neutrality by remanding President Lee Jae-myung's Public Official Election Act violation case to a lower court with a guilty intent. Nominee Kim gave this evaluation:

[Chae Hyun-il / Democratic Party Lawmaker : In the case of Chief Justice Cho Hee-de, the full bench referral and remand were executed like lightning in just nine days. Is that possible with 28 years of judicial experience?]

[Kim Sung-soo / Supreme Court Justice Nominee : One could sufficiently say that such procedural progression was somewhat unusual, but….]

In response, the People Power Party questioned what was unusual about upholding the principle of speedy trials.

[Joo Jin-woo / People Power Party Lawmaker : Giving answers that pander to power from the outset like this—will you be able to serve as a Supreme Court justice without looking at those in power?]

[Kim Sung-soo / Supreme Court Justice Nominee : Please understand it as me merely acknowledging that such an argument exists, rather than endorsing or empathizing with it.]

Lawmakers from the pan-ruling parties claimed that Chief Justice Cho disregarded the convention of prior consultation with the president when recommending Supreme Court justice nominees. Nominee Kim remarked, "While there is room for criticism," he believes "it was appropriately decided as a judicial administrative authority."

(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.