[Anchor]

In response, Cheong Wa Dae criticized Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae's refusal to recommend a new nominee, calling it unconstitutional and an act that neutralizes the president's appointment powers. There was even an infuriated reaction inside the presidential office, accusing him of taking advantage of an "empty house" while President Lee was away on an overseas trip.

Reporter Kang Cheongwan has the details.

[Reporter]

Immediately after Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae made his position public, Cheong Wa Dae issued two separate statements, expressing regret and pushing back against his claims.

First, it criticized the move as reflecting "an unconstitutional view that the Chief Justice's recommendation power supersedes the President's appointment power," adding that it "neutralizes the appointment power of a president elected by the people."

Regarding Chief Justice Cho's claim that the official document dated August 28 requesting the re-recommendation of a Supreme Court justice nominee contained no specific reasons or constitutional grounds, Cheong Wa Dae countered that "the President merely refrained from using expressions such as 'return' or 'reject' out of respect for the Chief Justice, but made his rejection clear by not submitting a motion for parliamentary approval for nominee Son Bong-ki to the National Assembly." It added that the constitutional basis for rejecting the nomination was also clearly stated in the official letter.

Cheong Wa Dae also pressured Chief Justice Cho, stressing that "since the President has rejected the recommended nominee, the Chief Justice must recommend a new candidate," and urging that "the Chief Justice must face the fact that a prolonged vacancy on the Supreme Court will ultimately harm the public and must not leave the current situation unattended."

As this took place while President Lee Jae-myung was away on an overseas trip, there was even a furious response from inside Cheong Wa Dae, with officials asking, "Isn't this raiding an empty house?"

Cheong Wa Dae officials also unanimously noted that Chief Justice Cho made no mention of the matter during a tea meeting with President Lee on September 21, right after the presentation ceremony of the certificate of appointment for Supreme Court Justice Kim Seong-su.

A senior Cheong Wa Dae official told SBS, "Chief Justice Cho's position that constitutional grounds and reasons could not be found makes no sense," adding, "Doing this ahead of the Chuseok holiday is a political move."

When asked about the possibility of filing for an adjudication on competence disputes with the Constitutional Court, the official drew a line, saying, "This is such an obvious matter, and it would be laughable for the President to file for an adjudication on competence disputes."

(Video by Yoon Hyeong | Video Editing by Yoo Mi-ra | Graphics by Seo Hyeon-jung)