Chonbuk National University appointed former Constitutional Court President Lee Kang-kook as chair professor of its law school Wednesday.

Lee will teach the Korean constitution, constitutional court cases, and civil and criminal trials, the school said. He also will give lectures on the future of local legal circles and judicial ethics.

Lee served the Constitutional Court as president from 2007. He is credited with enhancing the reliability and status of the legal stronghold which guarantees fundamental rights of the nation and its people.

The 68-year-old retired as president of the Constitutional Court on Monday, ending 41 years on the bench.

He will start lecturing at the law school of Chonbuk National University on Feb. 1.

“I am very pleased and honored to appoint the nation’s most senior judge as a chair professor. He is a sincere judge who has stood on the side of the people,” Suh Geo-suk, president of Chonbuk National University, said. “I hope he will teach our students many things about the righteous life he has led in the judicial world.”

Born in Imsil county, North Jeolla Province in 1945, Lee graduated from the college of law of Seoul National University in 1967. He started his judicial career as a district judge in Daejeon, then held important positions in courts.

He was appointed a justice of the Supreme Court in 2000 and completed his term at the top court in 2007. He then took office as the fourth president of the Constitutional Court in January, 2007.

By Chun Sung-woo (swchun@heraldcorp.com)