The Honorable LEE Heunggu was born in Tongyeong, Gyeongsangnam-do on March 30, 1963. He received an LL.B. from Seoul National University College of Law and passed the 32nd National Judicial Examination in 1990. He was appointed as a judge in March, 1993 and started his judgeship at Southern Branch Court of Seoul District Court. Since then, he served as a judge in various courts including Seoul District Court, Busan High Court, Ulsan District Court, and Daegu High Court. He was appointed as a Justice of the Supreme Court on September 8, 2020 while in office as Presiding Judge of Busan High Court.

Having served for 27 years as a judge, Justice Lee has contributed to the protection of fundamental rights of the people. He has endeavored to render judgments which accords with people’s sense of justice and legal sentiment and at the same time draw the most reasonable conclusion supported by law and principles, based on extensive knowledge in law and an elaborate analysis on fact findings. In particular, with his firm belief over the protection of the underprivileged and the minority, Justice Lee has earned a reputation that his rulings and decisions were in conformity with social justice.

As mostly served in Busan and nearby regions during his judicial career, Justice Lee has gained trust from members of local legal communities for his smooth and courteous presiding over a trial and his decisions. In addition, while in office as Chief Judge of Eastern Branch Court of Busan District Court, Justice Lee had made an effort to realize the judicial administration through horizontal decision making and for harmony and development of the court, establishing the following operating principles for the court: “There are differences in roles and views, but there is no high or low in position.”; “A decision should be made through sufficient discussion, but once made, the decision should be firmly implemented.”; and “The court should go together without any member being excluded within the court.”

Justice Lee served as the first Chairperson of the Trial System Subcommittee under the Advisory Council on Judicial Administration, and has contributed to the improvement of a trial system which aims for guaranteeing the rights of parties concerned extensively and conducting a fair trial.