▲ Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae arrives at the Supreme Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 3rd.
Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae returned to work today (the 3rd) after observing his father's funeral, stating regarding the request to re-nominate a Supreme Court justice candidate, "I will listen to the progress of the discussions and make an official statement."
Chief Justice Cho had been absent until yesterday due to the passing of his father on August 30.
Arriving at the Supreme Court building in Seocho-gu, Seoul, this morning, Chief Justice Cho told reporters, "First, I deeply thank everyone who sent condolences over my father's passing," adding, "We intended to hold a small family funeral, but it became a fuss, and I feel apologetic to the public."
In response to a question regarding the presidential office's request to re-nominate a Supreme Court justice candidate, he said, "We have not discussed the matter at all due to official duties," and added, "I will go inside, listen to the progress, and make an official statement again."
When asked if he plans to reconstitute the Supreme Court Justice Recommendation Committee, he reiterated, "I will listen to the overall progress of discussions and then speak."
On August 28, the presidential office rejected Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae's nomination of Supreme Court Justice nominee Sohn Bong-ki, stating that it "lacked procedural completeness," and demanded the re-nomination of another candidate.
On his way home from the Supreme Court building that day, Chief Justice Cho said, "I am sorry for causing concern to the public," and added, "I am reviewing the details, and once things are sorted out sometime next week, I will officially announce it."
At the center of attention is whether Chief Justice Cho will form a new Supreme Court Justice Recommendation Committee to select a successor to Justice Noh Tae-ak, or re-nominate from the remaining three previously recommended candidates as requested by the presidential office.
Inside and outside the judiciary, many anticipate that the recommendation committee will be reconstituted and the recommendation process will be carried out again.
This is because the current Court Organization Act stipulates that "the Chief Justice shall constitute a recommendation committee whenever nominating a Supreme Court justice candidate."
Some point out that if the presidential office rejects a nominated candidate and demands a re-nomination from the remaining candidates, such requests could continue until the presidential office's preferred person is nominated, effectively neutralizing the Chief Justice's right to nominate.
Should Chief Justice Cho express his stance to reconstitute the recommendation committee, a direct clash with the presidential office appears inevitable.
As time will be required from the reconstruction of the recommendation committee to the nomination of a new candidate, the vacancy on the Supreme Court bench will also be prolonged.
Previously, in July 2012, when then-Supreme Court justice nominee Kim Byung-hwa resigned amid various allegations, the Supreme Court newly constituted a recommendation committee and restarted the process from the recommendation phase.
Following re-recommendation, re-nomination, and the passage of the appointment consent motion in the National Assembly, it took about three months.
The Supreme Court has operated with one vacancy for nearly half a year since former Supreme Court Justice Noh Tae-ak retired last March without a successor.
Supreme Court Justice Lee Hung-gu is also facing retirement on the 7th.
However, as an agreement was reached regarding Kim Sung-soo, the candidate nominated to succeed Supreme Court Justice Lee Hung-gu, President Lee Jae-myung submitted the appointment consent motion for candidate Kim to the National Assembly on the 1st.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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