Candidates to succeed outgoing Supreme Court Justice Park Sang-ok have been shortlisted to three. 

The top court’s recommendation committee said on Monday that it has chosen three out of 15 candidates endorsed by the public during a meeting earlier in the day as it passed them on to Supreme Court Chief Justice Kim Myeong-su. 

The three finalists are prosecutor-turned-lawyer Bong Wook, Cheon Dae-yeop, a senior prosecutor at Seoul High Court, and Son Bong-gi, a senior prosecutor at Daegu District Court. 

The committee said they were chosen for their excellence, with the ability to respect a diversity of opinions, defend a divided democracy and uphold high ethical standards. 

Chief Justice Kim will select one of the three finalists after reviewing assessments from those in and outside the court by next Monday and issue a request to President Moon Jae-in.