South Korean President Lee Nominates Constitutional Court Chief, Justices, Vice Ministers

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has nominated former Supreme Court Justice Kim Sang-hwan as the new chief justice of the Constitutional Court, aiming to restore its independence and public trust amid recent political tensions. Alongside Kim, Lee appointed Oh Young-joon, a senior judge of the Seoul High Court, to the Constitutional Court's nine-member bench, with both set to serve six-year terms pending parliamentary hearings. Lee also nominated Lim Kwang-hyun, a ruling party lawmaker and former Seoul Regional Tax Office commissioner, as commissioner of the National Tax Service, marking the first time a sitting lawmaker may lead the agency. Additionally, Lee appointed five vice ministers across various departments, including defense, health, environment, employment, and the Fair Trade Commission, signaling a broad government reshuffle. The nomination of Ahn Gyu-back as Defense Minister, the first civilian in 64 years to hold the post, reflects Lee's commitment to military reform following last year's martial law episode. These moves represent the new administration's efforts to strengthen governance and address fractures in national institutions.