Supreme Court Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae recommended on Tuesday four nominees as top justices for President Lee Myung-bak’s approval.

They are Koh Young-han, vice minister of the National Court Administration; Kim Byeong-hwa, chief of the Incheon District Prosecutors’ Office; Kim Shin, chief of the Ulsan District Court; and Kim Chang-suk, president of Supreme Court Library of Korea. Yang picked them among the 13 recommended by the Supreme Court’s nomination committee last week.

They are expected to face tough hearings as the Democratic United Party opposed their appointment.

The main opposition party called for a reselection, claiming the lineup to be politically biased and lacking in diversity.

The nominees include no women and most of them are considered extremely conservative, the party said.

It also raised speculation that Cheong Wa Dae influenced the selection process.

The four nominees must go through confirmation hearings at the National Assembly before being appointed.

If approved, they will replace retiring justices Park Ill-hoan, Kim Nung-hwan, Jeon Soo-ahn and Ahn Dai-hee, whose terms end in July.

By Oh Kyu-wook (596story@heraldcorp.com)