Pres. Park taps ex-prosecutor to lead Constitutional Court

President Park Geun-hye nominated Park Han-cheol as chief justice of the Constitutional Court on Thursday, 60 days after his predecessor Lee Kang-kook retired and 37 days after Lee Dong-heup dropped out of the running due to questions over his ethical and financial integrity.

Park Han-cheol has become the first prosecutor-turned-chief justice since the court`s founding in 1988. All of his predecessors were judges. He is also the first Constitutional Court justice to be tapped to lead the court.

Presidential spokesman Yoon Chang-jung told a news briefing that Park Han-cheol is the longest-serving justice at the top court and the most senior to lead. He will undergo parliamentary confirmation hearings before being appointed.

The main opposition Democratic United Party criticized his selection as an “inappropriate nomination” causing fears over a public security drive.

President Park also named Cho Yong-ho, chief of the Seoul High Court, and Seo Ki-seok, head of the Seoul Central District Court, to fill the Constitutional Court vacancies left by Constitutional Court justice-nominee Park Han-cheol and another justice whose term ends Friday.

In addition, Han Jeong-hwa, dean of Hanyang University`s graduate school of business, was named to head the Small and Medium Business Administration. His nomination came three days after the former nominee Hwang Chul-joo, CEO of Jusung Engineering, decided not to take the position.

ditto@donga.com