Eleventh Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Korea
| Life | 1933 ~ 2023 |
| Era | 현대 |
| Clan | 연안 김씨 |
Kim Deok-ju (1933-2023) was the eleventh Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Korea. Of the Yeonan Kim clan and from Buyeo County, South Chungcheong, he graduated from Seoul National University law school and passed the seventh higher judicial examination in 1955.
Starting as a judge in Daegu, he served as chief judge in Chuncheon and in the Seoul Civil District Court, deputy head of the Court Administration in 1980, and Supreme Court justice in 1981. After a brief spell as a lawyer he was reappointed a justice in 1988 and appointed Chief Justice in 1990.
Controversy over the 1979 suspension of New Democratic Party leader Kim Young-sam was reported from his time as chief of the Seoul Civil District Court, and in 1993, soon after the Kim Young-sam government took office, allegations of real-estate speculation arose and he resigned. He died in January 2023.
Passing the 1955 judicial exam, he rose from a Daegu district court judge through chief judge and deputy head of court administration to Supreme Court justice and, in 1990, Chief Justice.
He resigned as Chief Justice in 1993 after property speculation allegations arose. Sources differ on the details and outcome, so only the resignation is recorded.
His burial site was not confirmed in this research.