Prosecutors request ex-Supreme Court chief justice to appear for questioning

Prosecutors have summoned former Supreme Court Chief Justice Kim Myeong-su to appear for questioning in connection with a falsehood he said in 2021 about his refusal to accept the resignation of a judge facing parliamentary impeachment, sources said Wednesday. Kim, who headed the top court from 2017-23, faces charges of stating a falsehood in an official document after he said in early 2021 that he had never refused to accept the resignation of then Judge Lim Seong-geun when the two met in May 2020. But Kim's statement was later found to be false as Lim disclosed the recording of their conversation, in which Kim said he could not accept the resignation because it would put him in trouble as Lim was facing parliamentary impeachment at the time. "How would the parliament respond if I tell them I accepted your resignation, at a time when they are going all out for an impeachment?" Kim said at the time, according to the recording. "It's not appropriate to receive such criticism." Kim later apologized, saying he made the untrue statement due to "unclear memories." The then main opposition People Power Party and right-wing civic groups later filed complaints with the prosecution against Kim. Sources said the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office has recently sent a summons for Kim to appear for questioning. The questioning is expected to take place sometime next month. It would mark the second time a former Supreme Court justice undergoes questioning after former Supreme Court Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae, who was indicted on charges of using trials as bargaining chips in dealings with the Park administration to promote his bid to establish a court of appeals. Source: Yonhap News Agency