South Korea's Supreme Court reshuffles panels to keep hearings running amid two-justice vacancy

South Korea's Supreme Court has reshuffled its smaller panels to prevent hearings from being disrupted after the number of vacant justice seats rose to two.

The court said on Aug. 8 that it had moved Justice Eom Sang-pil from the second panel to the third. The third panel had already lost Justice Noh Kyung-pil, who became head of the court administration office in July. Justice Lee Heung-koo's retirement the previous day left two seats open on the panel.

Each small panel needs at least three justices to hear cases. The court will therefore operate temporarily with four justices on the first panel and three each on the second and third. The third panel is handling cases including the judicial-corruption scandal involving former court administration official Lee Min-gul, allegations that former presidential first lady Kim Hye-kyung misused a corporate card, and a child-abuse case involving a special-education teacher linked to the son of webtoon artist Joo Ho-min.

The reshuffle avoids an immediate suspension of hearings, but ten justices will now handle work designed for twelve. That is expected to increase the workload for each member. One vacancy could be filled soon if the confirmation process for Kim Seong-soo, a Seoul High Court chief judge nominated to replace Lee, proceeds as planned. Parliament's confirmation hearing is scheduled for Aug. 14, followed by a committee report on Aug. 16 and a plenary vote before presidential appointment.

Restoring the full court will take longer. The presidential office last month rejected Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae's nomination of Daegu District Court chief judge Son Bong-ki to replace former Justice Noh Tae-ak and asked the court to submit a new nomination from the candidates recommended by the existing committee. The Supreme Court has not yet decided how to proceed.