President Moon Jae-in called on the new head of the Supreme Court Monday to spearhead judicial reform and realize legal justice, noting the task can only be done by the judicial branch itself.

The remarks came as the president appointed the new chief justice of the Supreme Court, Kim Meong-su, in a ceremony held at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.
 
"Political reform is the task of the president, the government and the National Assembly, but judicial reform is what the judicial branch must do as a neutral and independent organization and I believe the people and the judicial branch itself have great expectations for the new Supreme Court chief justice," the president said, according to Cheong Wa Dae pool reports.

Kim's appointment came four days after the unicameral parliament approved his nomination in a 160-134 vote. The parliamentary approval came one month after the former head of a district court in Gangwon Province was designated the new chief of the country's top court.

Kim, 57, replaced Yang Sung-tae whose six-year term ended Sunday. (Yonhap)