Cheong Wa Dae Leaning Toward Rejecting Son Bong-ki's Nomination; Kim Sung-su Expected to Be Accepted

[Anchor]

Cheong Wa Dae is reportedly leaning toward rejecting the nomination of Senior Judge Son Bong-ki, whom Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae nominated to succeed former Supreme Court Justice Noh Tae-ak. Meanwhile, the appointment procedures are expected to proceed for the other nominee, Senior Judge Kim Sung-su.

Reporter Park Ha-jeong has more.

[Reporter]

Regarding Daegu District Court Senior Judge Son Bong-ki—whom Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae submitted in a written appointment nomination to President Lee Jae-myung as the successor to former Supreme Court Justice Noh Tae-ak—Cheong Wa Dae has reportedly leaned toward rejecting the nomination.

An official from the ruling bloc stated, "We are strongly considering the option of returning the appointment consent bill for Senior Judge Son without sending it to the National Assembly."

The Constitution stipulates that Supreme Court justices are appointed by the President upon the nomination of the Chief Justice and with the consent of the National Assembly.

A Cheong Wa Dae official also remarked, "As this is an unprecedented situation in the constitutional history of the Republic of Korea and an exceptional unilateral notification that skipped consultation, we view it as a matter that requires thorough preliminary review of other precedents and laws."

Following Chief Justice Cho's written appointment nomination, the ruling bloc pointed out that the Supreme Court broke the convention of prior consultation between Cheong Wa Dae and the Supreme Court before making a nomination. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court argued that Cheong Wa Dae did not provide an opportunity for a meeting or that it had discussed submitting the written document through the senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, sparking a truth-gapping dispute.

The ruling bloc official added that nothing has been specifically finalized regarding the timing of when Senior Judge Son's nomination might be rejected.

It is known that Cheong Wa Dae is reviewing a plan to accept Chief Justice Cho's nomination and submit the appointment consent bill to the National Assembly for Senior Judge Kim Sung-su of the Seoul High Court, who was nominated alongside Senior Judge Son as a successor to Supreme Court Justice Lee Heung-goo, whose term is set to end on September 7.

(Video Editing: So Ji-hye)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.