“The probe result is beyond what we, as members of the judiciary can imagine,” Supreme Court Chief Justice Kim Meong-su said in a statement. “I express my deepest apology to the public for undermining trust and we deserve every reprimand for that matter.”

He vowed to come up with follow-up measures in regards to the probe team‘s findings, possibly including a further investigation into the alleged illicit surveillance, in a way that will reshape and reform the entire management system.

“We will decide the next move from as objective a view as possible and bring in a swift plan to set up a new body that will serve to restore and guarantee the independence of the judiciary in the long term,” he added.

Suspicions over the illicit surveillance of judges arose early last year, when a district court judge in Incheon at the time accused the NCA of trying to scale down an academic society made up of judges with left-leaning tendencies. The Supreme Court, led by then chief Yang Sung-tae, set up a probe team in April to look into the allegation and concluded it was groundless. 

Justice Kim, who was appointed by liberal President Moon Jae-in in August, allowed a fresh probe into the suspicion in November amid growing calls for a thorough investigation from the judges. (Yonhap)