Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae stated today (the 17th), "Cooperation among the judiciary, the legislature, and the executive branch must be carried out while guaranteeing the independence of the judiciary."

His emphasis on "judicial independence" at an international gathering of heads of judiciaries came amid ongoing tensions with the presidential office regarding the re-nomination issue for Supreme Court justices.

In his opening address at the 20th Conference of Chief Justices of Asia and the Pacific held at the Grand Hyatt Seoul in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, this morning, Chief Justice Cho said, "No matter what challenges we face, the independence of judicial power must be strictly upheld," adding, "This is to enable the judiciary to safeguard democracy and the rule of law and fulfill its inherent role."

"In many countries, complex political and social disputes are heading to the courts, and the public is placing increasingly high expectations on the judiciary," he said. "In such situations, the courts must firmly uphold the law and principles."

He continued, "All judges must have the courage to judge solely according to the law and principles without fear, no matter what difficulties they encounter," and added, "Chief justices bear a special responsibility to support judges so that they can fulfill these duties."

Chief Justice Cho stated, "As you know well through experience and as chief justices from various countries have emphasized, mutual respect and cooperation among the judiciary, the legislature, and the executive are necessary for judicial functions to be performed effectively."

He then emphasized, "Such cooperation helps resolve the complex conflicts of modern society. However, this cooperation must be pursued while respecting the inherent responsibilities of each institution and guaranteeing the independence of the judiciary."

Chief Justice Cho noted, "Maintaining a balance between the independence of the judiciary and the cooperation among the three branches while earning public trust is a difficult task," and expressed hope that "by sharing our experiences and insights, we can jointly seek constructive ways to faithfully carry out these responsibilities."

(Photo: Yonhap News)