▲ Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae arrives for work at the Supreme Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on September 22.
Cheong Wa Dae expressed deep regret today (September 22) after Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae refused to re-recommend a candidate for Supreme Court justice.
A Cheong Wa Dae official stated, "We express deep regret over the Chief Justice's announcement of his position that he will not re-nominate a successor candidate despite the President's return of the recommendation."
The official emphasized, "The Chief Justice's statement reflects a perception that the Chief Justice's power to recommend takes precedence over the President's power of appointment, which violates the Constitution of the Republic of Korea."
The official also pointed out, "The notion that the President must appoint a Supreme Court justice candidate simply as recommended by the Chief Justice neutralizes the appointment power of the President elected by the people."
The Cheong Wa Dae official explained, "Six months have passed since former Justice Noh Tae-ak retired."
The official continued, "In a situation where each Supreme Court justice handles 3,500 to 4,600 cases per year, a vacancy of even one justice directly leads to an infringement upon the people's right to a speedy trial."
The official added, "The Chief Justice must face the fact that a prolonged vacancy on the Supreme Court directly harms the public and should no longer leave the current situation unaddressed."
Earlier, Chief Justice Cho stated, "We cannot find any specific constitutional grounds or reasons to justify the request for re-recommendation," adding, "We cannot comply with the request for re-recommendation."
This comes 25 days after Cheong Wa Dae requested a re-recommendation on August 28.
As Cheong Wa Dae immediately refuted Chief Justice Cho's position, the conflict surrounding the nomination of the Supreme Court justice has intensified further.
※
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.