战略与国际研究中心-Impact-Player_-Park-Sang_1页_241kb

Impact Players: Park Sang-ok

Who is Park Sang-ok?

Park Sang-ok is a South Korean Supreme Court Justice who was appointed by the National Assembly on May 6, 2015, following a nomination by President Park Geun-hye on January 21, 2015. He was appointed to replace Justice Shin Young-chul, who retired on February 17, 2015.

Before his judicial career, Park served as a prosecutor for 25 years (1984–2008), holding key positions such as:

• Director of the Preparatory Committee for the 2003 International Anti-Corruption Conference (2002)
• Vice President of the Judicial Research and Training Institute (2006)

He graduated in law from Seoul National University in 1978 and later earned a Master of Comparative Law from George Washington University in 1989. After retiring from the Supreme Prosecutors' office, he held roles including:

• Member of the Private Schools Dispute Mediation Committee (2012–2014)
• President of the Korean Institute of Criminology (2014)

Why has he been in the news?

Park Sang-ok's appointment to the Supreme Court has been a controversial and politically charged event. His nomination by President Park Geun-hye faced opposition from the main opposition party, New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD). The opposition cited his alleged involvement in the cover-up of the death of Park Jong-chul, a Seoul National University student who was tortured to death in 1987 during the democratization movement.

Despite the controversy, Park's nomination was approved on May 6, 2015, with a vote of 151 yes, 6 no, and 1 abstention. However, the NPAD members boycotted the plenary session, leading to a stalemate in the approval process. As a result, the Supreme Court seat remained vacant for over 80 days.

On May 8, 2015, President Park formally presented Park Sang-ok with his appointment at the Blue House, and he took his oath at the Supreme Court of South Korea the same day.

What can we expect from him?

Park Sang-ok is expected to continue his commitment to anti-corruption and transparency, given his extensive experience as a prosecutor. During his inaugural speech, he emphasized his dedication to upholding the rule of law and administering justice in an equal and diverse society.

His appointment is significant because it comes at a time when the Supreme Court is dealing with several high-profile cases, including:

• Han Myeong-sook, the former Prime Minister and member of the opposition party, who was indicted for bribery charges
• Lee Jay-hyun, the Chairman of CJ Group, who was arrested for embezzlement and tax evasion

Due to the prolonged vacancy caused by the political opposition, these cases have experienced delays in judicial proceedings. Park's appointment is anticipated to help resolve these delays and bring stability to the judiciary.

In summary, Park Sang-ok is a highly experienced legal professional with a strong background in anti-corruption efforts, whose appointment to the Supreme Court has been politically contentious. His role is expected to have a significant impact on the administration of justice in South Korea, particularly in high-profile corruption cases.