▲ Constitutional Court Justice Lee Jong-seok arrives for work at the court in Seoul on Oct. 18, 2023. (Yonhap)

(LEAD) Yoon-Constitutional Court chief

(LEAD) Yoon names new president of Constitutional Court

(ATTN: UPDATES with official's remarks on Supreme Court chief justice)

By Lee Haye-ah

SEOUL, Oct. 18 (Yonhap) -- President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday named a current justice of the Constitutional Court as its new chief, his office said.

Justice Lee Jong-seok, who has been serving on the nine-member bench since 2018, was picked to replace Constitutional Court President Yoo Nam-seok following his retirement next month, according to presidential chief of staff Kim Dae-ki.

Lee's appointment will be subject to a parliamentary confirmation hearing followed by a vote by the National Assembly.

The nominee previously served as a senior judge at the Seoul High Court and chief of the Suwon District Court, among other positions.

He is considered a conservative member of the bench and will likely serve as president only for the remaining 11 months of his six-year term as justice.

Lee entered Seoul National University School of Law in 1979 at the same time as Yoon.

A leadership change has also been pending at the Supreme Court.

Lee Gyun-ryong, Yoon's initial pick for Supreme Court chief justice, was rejected by the opposition-controlled National Assembly earlier this month in the first such rejection in 35 years.

"We're looking hard for a Supreme Court chief justice," a senior presidential official told reporters. "We will win the National Assembly's approval at an early date."

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