[Anchor]

A fierce debate unfolded at the National Assembly today (the 31st) regarding the presidential office's request for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Cho Hee-dae to reconsider his recommendation for Supreme Court justice candidates. The ruling party even went so far as to claim that Chief Justice Cho's true president in his heart still appears to be former President Yoon Suk Yeol. Meanwhile, the Minister of the National Court Administration responded regarding the clash between the Chief Justice's right of recommendation and the President's right of appointment by stating that "each other's authority must be respected."

Reporter Kim Bo-mi has the details.

[Reporter]

At today's full meeting of the National Assembly's Special Committee on Budget and Accounts.

When a ruling party lawmaker pressed whether the President must mechanically accept a candidate when the Chief Justice makes a recommendation regarding the conflict between the presidential office and the Supreme Court over the appointment of Supreme Court justices, Roh Kyung-pil, Minister of the National Court Administration, replied as follows:

[Roh Kyung-pil / Minister of the National Court Administration: Personally, I think that each respective authority should be respected.]

The ruling party lawmaker sharpened the attack, claiming that Chief Justice Cho does not respect the President elected directly by the people and continues to provoke the constitutional order.

[Lee Kun-tae / Democratic Party Lawmaker: It still seems like the president in Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae's heart is former President Yoon Suk Yeol.]

Opposition lawmakers argued that nowhere in the Constitution is there a custom of prior consultation between the President and the Chief Justice before recommending Supreme Court justices, and warned that if the request for re-recommendation is accepted, the Chief Justice's power of recommendation would be reduced to a mere "right to suggest."

[Cho Bae-sook / People Power Party Lawmaker: While such customs of prior consultation may exist, isn't this actually unconstitutional? Is there some problem with Supreme Court justice candidate Son Bong-ki? Is there any problem?]

[Roh Kyung-pil / Minister of the National Court Administration: No. I believe he is an outstanding judge.]

When asked whether the Supreme Court will reconstitute the candidate recommendation committee in response to the presidential office's request for re-recommendation, Minister Roh only answered that they are "reviewing the statutes."

The pending issues session of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee scheduled for today was canceled due to the passing of Chief Justice Cho's father, and the Democratic Party even issued internal guidelines asking for respect during the mourning period.

Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik visited the funeral wake to convey condolences from President Lee Jae-myung.

(Video reporting: Lee Seung-hwan and Shin Dong-hwan | Video editing: Seunghee)