Noh Kyung-pil, the newly appointed Minister of National Court Administration (Supreme Court Justice), stated that the Supreme Court's decision last May to remand the public official election law violation case involving President Lee Jae-myung was made "in accordance with the Constitution and the law," adding, "Contrary to misunderstandings, there was no political judgment involved."

Attending a plenary session of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the afternoon of July 15, Minister Noh responded to a question from Representative Kim Yong-min of the Democratic Party of Korea, who asked if he had anything to say regarding public suspicion surrounding President Lee's trial, by saying, "It is very regrettable that there is a misunderstanding that such a political judgment was made."

He added, "However, we reached our conclusion to the best of our ability based on the laws in effect at the time."

In response to a follow-up question from Representative Kim Ki-pyo of the Democratic Party, Minister Noh reiterated, "I am aware that there is room for misunderstanding that the ruling was an act of election interference or political intervention, and that many people are watching with concern," while emphasizing again that "the trial was conducted in accordance with the Constitution and the law."

When asked, "If you have done nothing wrong, you will not apologize, right?" Minister Noh replied, "Yes."

At the time of the Supreme Court ruling on the election law violation case involving then-presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung on May 1 of last year, Minister Noh was among the majority (10 justices) who voted to remand the case with the intent of a guilty verdict.

Regarding the delay in the nomination of a Supreme Court Justice, Minister Noh said, "I understand that consultations are ongoing (between the Presidential Office and the judiciary)."

Former Supreme Court Justice Noh Tae-ak retired in March, but the position has remained vacant due to differences in opinion between the Presidential Office and the judiciary regarding the nomination process.

When Representative Park Jie-won of the Democratic Party asked, "Former President Yoon Suk-yeol was found guilty in relation to the Myeong Tae-kyun public opinion poll, so isn't it wrong that the First Lady was acquitted in both the first and second trials? Shouldn't the Supreme Court remand the case?" Minister Noh replied, "The court in charge would have reached its conclusion after sufficient deliberation..."

Minister Noh took office yesterday, four and a half months after his predecessor, Park Young-jae, stepped down in February amid the backlash over the legislation of the "three judicial laws" (the law on judicial distortion, the introduction of constitutional complaints against court rulings, and the expansion of the number of Supreme Court Justices).

(Photo: Yonhap News)