Jeju District Court has a new chief judge. (이동원) Yi Dong-won says he will work on preventing illegal development on the island and forestalling the spread of fake news in the lead-up to this year’s elections. Mike Laidman reports. Report
[slug] New Chief Judge of Jeju District Court: Yi Dong-won
(이동원) Yi Dong-won is the newly appointed chief judge of the Jeju District Court.
He began his career as a judge in 1991, and this is his first time working in Jeju.
He vowed to make Jeju’s courtrooms more respectful and to do his utmost to please Jeju residents as the head of the Jeju court system at his inauguration ceremony.
He stressed that his office will take strict measures against the illegal development that is threatening Jeju Island’s nature.
[slug] ‘Illegal development will be focus of efforts’
With increasing numbers of internationals coming to the island for business or travel, Yi mentioned the importance of managing the social issues that accompany some of them.
He says that even if the court is unable to follow all social changes, it can still deter people from breaking the law through strict enforcement.
Recording Yi Dong-won / Chief Judge, Jeju District Court Many foreigners visit Jeju, which means our society is changing faster than we expected and not giving us time to properly prepare for these changes. The courts cannot predict or precede social change, but my office will still prioritize the welfare of all islanders through the court system. <싱크 : 이동원 / 제주지방법원장> "외국인들이 많이 방문하고 있는데 우리가 미처 준비하지 못한 가운데 굉장히 빨리 움직이는 거 같아요. 우리가 예상하는 것보다 세상이 빨리 움직이는데 법원이 앞서가긴 어렵습니다만, 최소한 도민이 불편하지 않게끔 사법행정이나 재판 과정에서 이 부분을 신경 쓰도록…."
Regarding the rising voice across the nation over judicial reform, Yi emphasized the restoration of trust, saying that a fair trial is the ultimate goal of the reform.
Recording Yi Dong-won / Chief Judge, Jeju District Court I believe that a social system for judges and workers at the district court should be provided so that they may better focus on their roles. This would be a step toward judicial reform. <싱크 : 이동원 / 제주지방법원장> "본래의 법원의 모습을 그대로 잘 감당하는데 판사와 법원 직원이 그것 외에는 신경 쓰지 않게끔 도와주는 제도적인 제반 조치가 강구되는 것이 사법개혁의 핵심이라고 생각하고요."
As well as being the Chief Judge of the Jeju District Court, Yi is also the head of the Jeju branch of the National Election Commission.
For the coming June 13 elections, Yi has his sights set on a clean and fair procedure.
He put special emphasis on rooting out ‘fake news’ as well as the spread of groundless allegations through social media.
Recording Yi Dong-won / Chief Judge, Jeju District Court Fake news is most common during the final stages of campaigning. My office will try to eliminate it and the spread of groundless allegations that defame opponents. <싱크 : 이동원 / 제주지방법원장> "선거 막바지가 좀 문제인 것 같더라고요. 그래서 혼탁한 선거가 되지 않도록 가짜 뉴스라던지 허위사실을 적시한 명예훼손 등 그런 부분은 좀 더 신경을 쓰도록…."
[Reporter] Mike Laidman [Camera] Ko Moon-su
The new chief judge was born and raised in (논산) Nonsan, South (충청) Chungcheon Province and began his career as a judge at Seoul District Court for Criminal Cases in 1991.
He worked as the judicial researcher at the Supreme Court of Korea and as the senior judge at the Seoul High Court.
