The Honorable Justice KIM So-young was born on November 17, 1965. Justice Kim earned her LL.B. from Seoul National University and passed the 29th National Judicial Examination in 1987. She was appointed as a judge in March 1990 and started her judgeship at Seoul Civil District Court.

Justice Kim served as a judge at various courts including Seoul Central District Court, Seoul High Court, Seoul Family Court, Daejeon High Court, and National Court Administration. She was appointed as Justice on November 2, 2012 while serving as a Presiding Judge of Daejeon High Court.

She conducted various trials including civil, criminal, administrative, and family cases at all levels of courts in a smooth manner being considerate toward parties to a litigation. She endeavored to protect the rights of the vulnerable and minorities by rendering several judgments acknowledging claim for division of property following the breakdown of de facto relationship, rectifying unfair long-tem exclusive contracting practices between entertainers and their agencies, and acknowledging state compensation for victims of the Defense Security Command’s fabrication over espionage. Also, she has been highly respected by those inside and outside of courts for rendering reasonable, fair, and insightful judgment that sees through the essence of cases.

She greatly contributed to enhancing status and capability of woman judges within the judiciary by serving as a Director of Judicial Research of the Supreme Court Library, the Chief Judge of Gongju Branch Court of Daejeon District Court, and a Director General for Planning of National Court Administration, all for the first time as a woman judge. While serving as the Chief Expert Commissioner of the Sentencing Committee, she was awarded Service Merit Medal for establishing reasonable yet strict sentencing guidelines for the crime of bribery.

Justice Kim composed a number of legal theses such as A Study on Division of Co-Owned Property(1993), Division of Inherited Property(2003), Deposit for Performance for Unidentified Creditors and Extinctive Prescription(2007), and Scope of President’s Power of Unincorporated Association after Expiration of Term of Office without a Successor and Time of Termination(2007).