Former Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae Living an Ordinary Life in a Humble Manner
Former Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae (60, Judicial Research and Training Institute 18th class), who has been active in various fields since his retirement, was captured in an everyday scene at a bus stop in Busan, making headlines.
On the 20th, a short video titled "Justice Moon Hyung-bae, are you taking the bus?" quickly spread across various social media and online communities.
A poster identified as A shared a 2-second video, stating that he spotted the former acting chief justice at a bus stop in Busan the day before. The released video showed Moon talking to someone at the bus stop through the glass of the bus exit door.
A said, "It's heartwarming to see someone who has served as a constitutional justice waiting to take the bus," expressing admiration for his down-to-earth demeanor.
A Notable Figure Engraved in the Public Mind After the Impeachment Ruling of Former President Yoon Seok-youl
A pivotal moment that cemented the public's memory of former Acting Justice Moon was on April 4th.
He was the one who read the ruling as a representative of the eight justices when the Constitutional Court announced the impeachment ruling against former President Yoon Seok-youl.
After reading the summary for 22 minutes, he firmly stated, "We dismiss the President, Yoon Seok-youl," while staring directly ahead, leaving a strong impression on viewers.
A Legal Professional Noted for Integrity and Moral Conviction
Former Acting Justice Moon has also been recognized for his exemplary wealth management and strong moral convictions.
When he attended a confirmation hearing for the Constitutional Court nominee under former President Moon Jae-in in 2019, his reported assets were approximately 670 million KRW.
In response to a question from Democratic Party member Baek Hye-ryun, who asked, "Isn't this too little for someone who has been a judge for 27 years?" Moon replied, "I promised not to stray from an average person’s life when I got married. My pure assets are barely 400 million KRW. I feel I have exceeded the average assets a little and I am reflecting on that."
This statement gained him the nickname "a judge aspiring to live an average life," resonating with many.
He also clearly stated, "I will not engage in profit-seeking lawyer activities after my public service ends," emphasizing his moral principles.
In fact, last year, the Constitutional Court's Ethics Committee revealed that his assets were over 1.5 billion KRW, still maintaining a modest level compared to other justices.
Humanistic Judgments and Activities After Retirement
Born in Hadong, Gyeongnam, Moon graduated from Daeya High School in Jinju and Seoul National University's Law School and passed the 28th Bar Exam, consistently serving as a judge in Busan and Changwon.
He garnered attention for his humanistic judgments during trials.
One notable incident involved a defendant charged with arson after a suicide attempt, where he made the defendant shout "suicide" ten times before saying, "To our ears, it sounds like 'let's live,'" and pronounced a suspended sentence, gifting the individual a book titled "49 Things You Must Do While Alive." This story still resonates with many.
Image source: Online Community, Former Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae / News1
