KOREA WHO
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Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Korea
Cho Hee-dae
Conservative Dissents, Court Faces Reform Law Challenge
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Last Updated on Jun 10, 2026
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Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Korea
Life Summary
Cho Hee-dae is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Korea.
He has sought to resolve the ongoing conflict between the National Assembly and the judiciary following the passage of the three judicial reform bills through sufficient persuasion and consultation.
He was born on June 6, 1957, in Wolseong, North Gyeongsang Province.
He graduated from Gyeongbuk High School, earned a law degree from Seoul National University, and completed an LL.M. (Master of Laws) program at Cornell Law School in the United States.
He passed the 23rd National Bar Examination and completed the 13th class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute.
In 1986, he began his legal career as a judge at the Seoul Criminal District Court.
He subsequently served as a Supreme Court Research Judge, Chief Judge of the Daegu District Court, professor at the Judicial Research and Training Institute, and Chief Judge of the Seoul Central District Court.
After serving as Chief Judge of the Daegu District Court and Chief Judge of the Daegu Family Court, as well as a Justice of the Supreme Court, he was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 2023.
During the tenure of former Chief Justice Kim Myeong-su, he expressed dissenting opinions in major cases involving the state corruption scandal and conscientious objection to military service, earning the nickname “Mr. Dissent.”
More recently, he received the lowest rating in every category of an internal court evaluation, leading to criticism that he is “a leader whose credibility has been shaken.”
#ChoHee-dae #ChiefJustice #SupremeCourtofKorea #JudicialReform #KoreanJudiciary #SeoulNationalUniversity #CornellLawSchool #DissentingOpinion #KimMyeongsu #KoreanLegalSystem
He has sought to resolve the ongoing conflict between the National Assembly and the judiciary following the passage of the three judicial reform bills through sufficient persuasion and consultation.
He was born on June 6, 1957, in Wolseong, North Gyeongsang Province.
He graduated from Gyeongbuk High School, earned a law degree from Seoul National University, and completed an LL.M. (Master of Laws) program at Cornell Law School in the United States.
He passed the 23rd National Bar Examination and completed the 13th class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute.
In 1986, he began his legal career as a judge at the Seoul Criminal District Court.
He subsequently served as a Supreme Court Research Judge, Chief Judge of the Daegu District Court, professor at the Judicial Research and Training Institute, and Chief Judge of the Seoul Central District Court.
After serving as Chief Judge of the Daegu District Court and Chief Judge of the Daegu Family Court, as well as a Justice of the Supreme Court, he was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 2023.
During the tenure of former Chief Justice Kim Myeong-su, he expressed dissenting opinions in major cases involving the state corruption scandal and conscientious objection to military service, earning the nickname “Mr. Dissent.”
More recently, he received the lowest rating in every category of an internal court evaluation, leading to criticism that he is “a leader whose credibility has been shaken.”
#ChoHee-dae #ChiefJustice #SupremeCourtofKorea #JudicialReform #KoreanJudiciary #SeoulNationalUniversity #CornellLawSchool #DissentingOpinion #KimMyeongsu #KoreanLegalSystem