1942. 2. Born is Boseong, Jeollanam-do

1962. Passed the 15th National Higher Civil Service Examination, Judicial Section

1968. Judge of Daejeon District Court

1980. Research Judge of the Supreme Court

1981. Professor of Judicial Research and Training Institute

1981. Presiding Judge of Seoul Civil District Court

1982. Director General for Investigative Research and Inspector General for Judicial Ethics of National Court Administration

1985. Presiding Judge of Gwangju High Court

1992. Chief Judge of Western Branch Court of Seoul District Court

1993. Vice Minister of National Court Administration

1994. Justice of the Supreme Court

2004. Chairperson of Government Public Ethic Committee

2005. The 14th Chief Justice

2011. Retired as Chief Justice

Chief Justice Lee pushed forward with judicial reform under the slogan of ‘the judiciary truly serving for the people’. Many of the reforms during his tenure include the retrial of the Progressive Party, correcting the history of justice by deciding the Emergency Act 1 of Yushin Constitution unconstitutional, emphasis on oral argument where judges hear party’s argument in person, and stress on the principle of court-oriented trials.