Qualifications

To be a judge in Korea, the first step is to pass the National Judicial Examination and complete the two-year training program at the Judicial Research and Training Institute. Of the 292,728 people who took the judicial examination during the period from 1949 to 1995, only 6,351 have passed. The extremely low passing rate of 2.16 percent partly explains the excellent quality of judges in Korea and the tremendous trust Korean people have in the judicial system.

Appointment

The Chief Justice is appointed by the President with the consent of the National Assembly. The Justices of the Supreme Court are also appointed by the President, upon recommendation of the Chief Justice and with the consent of the National Assembly. The judges of the lower courts are appointed by the Chief Justice with the consent of the Supreme Court Justices Council. To be appointed as a judge, one shall first be nominated as an apprentice judge for two years. If that person has a career as a lawyer for two or more years, the period of an apprentice judge may be exempted or shortened

Tenure and Age Limits

Although the tenure of judges is set at 10 years by law, they usually serve consecutive terms. The Supreme Court Justices may also serve consecutive terms, but their tenure is 6 years. However, the Chief Justice is not allowed to serve terms beyond the tenure of 6 years. The Chief Justice is required by law to retire from office at the age of 70, the Justices of the Supreme Court at 65, and all other judges at 63.

Guarantee of status

To insure that judges are subordinate to no other agency of the State, the personal status of  
judges is legally guaranteed as follows :
(1) Dismissal of Judges from Office
No judge may be dismissed from office, except by impeachment or criminal punishment.
(2) Disciplinary Action against Judges
No judge may be suspended from office, have a reduction in salary, or otherwise be disciplined
except by a disciplinary action of the Judicial Disciplinary Committee of the Supreme Court.
(3) Political Neutrality of Judges
The political activities of judges are restricted as part of the policy of maintaining the political neutrality of public officials

From Supreme Court of Korea <http://www.scourt.go.kr>