'Refusal to Appoint Made Clear by Non-Submission to Assembly': Cheong Wa Dae Fires Back

[Anchor]

Cheong Wa Dae has countered that the decision not to submit the motion for consent to the candidate's appointment to the National Assembly itself constitutes the grounds for requesting a re-nomination. At the same time, Cheong Wa Dae made clear that it is not considering filing for an adjudication on a competence dispute with the Constitutional Court.

Reporter Kang Cheong-wan reports.

[Reporter]

Five hours after Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae released an additional statement, Cheong Wa Dae issued a two-page rebuttal.

Addressing Chief Justice Cho's claim that the grounds for requesting a re-nomination of a Supreme Court justice candidate were not clearly stated in the official document dated August 28, Cheong Wa Dae emphasized, "The official document states, 'Since it was decided not to submit a motion for consent to the appointment of Supreme Court Justice nominee Son Bong-ki to the National Assembly.'"

Cheong Wa Dae explained that this sentence clearly communicated its position of having no intention to appoint him, which represents the explicit reason for requesting a re-nomination.

Cheong Wa Dae also escalated its criticism, saying that Chief Justice Cho distorted the matter yesterday as if there were a defect in the official document, and is misleading the public today by claiming the reasons are unclear.

It previously took issue with Chief Justice Cho's recommendation process itself as well.

It argued that despite lawfully receiving recommendations for four individuals from the Supreme Court Justice Candidate Recommendation Committee, contacting them individually to ask whether they intended to withdraw was a "grave procedural flaw."

Cheong Wa Dae stressed that the president's authority to appoint Supreme Court justices is not merely a formality that must blindly follow the Chief Justice's nomination, asserting that a president endowed with democratic legitimacy through elections must have the power to either appoint or refuse to appoint Supreme Court justices.

A Cheong Wa Dae official told SBS, "The request for re-nomination was lawful," adding, "There is virtually no possibility of either requesting a re-nomination again or transmitting nominee Son's appointment consent motion to the National Assembly."

Cheong Wa Dae also formalized its position that it is not reviewing a request for an adjudication on a competence dispute.

This is interpreted as reflecting a judgment that there would be no practical benefit.

In political and legal circles, speculation is emerging that the standoff could drag on until June next year, when Chief Justice Cho is set to retire.

(Video by Yoon Hyeong | Video editing by Park Seon-soo | Graphics by Kang Yoon-jeong)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.