[Anchor]

In response, Cheong Wa Dae has once again launched a rebuttal. It argued that Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae misled the public, even though the statement in the official document requesting a re-recommendation about not submitting the confirmation motion to the National Assembly served as a clear reason.

Reporter Kang Cheongwan reports.

[Reporter]

Five hours after Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae released an additional statement, Cheong Wa Dae issued a two-page rebuttal on A4 paper.

Regarding Chief Justice Cho's claim that the reasons for requesting a re-recommendation of the Supreme Court justice nominee were not clearly stated in the official document dated August 28, Cheong Wa Dae emphasized, "The official document states, 'As it has been decided not to submit a motion for appointment consent to the National Assembly regarding Supreme Court Justice Nominee Son Bong-gi.'"

Cheong Wa Dae maintained that this sentence clearly expressed its stance of having no intention to appoint him—that is, the reason for requesting a re-recommendation.

Cheong Wa Dae escalated its criticism, stating that Chief Justice Cho distorted the matter yesterday as if there were a defect in the official document, and today misled the public by claiming the reason was unclear.

Earlier, Cheong Wa Dae also took issue with Chief Justice Cho's recommendation process itself.

It stated that contacting candidates individually to ask whether they would withdraw, despite having lawfully received four candidates recommended by the Supreme Court Justice Candidate Recommendation Committee, constituted a "grave procedural defect."

Cheong Wa Dae stressed that the president's authority to appoint Supreme Court justices is not a perfunctory power that must simply follow the Chief Justice's recommendation, and that a president endowed with democratic legitimacy through an election must be able to appoint or refuse to appoint a Supreme Court justice.

A Cheong Wa Dae official told SBS, "The request for re-recommendation was lawful," adding, "There is virtually no possibility of requesting a re-recommendation again or sending Nominee Son's confirmation motion to the National Assembly."

Cheong Wa Dae also made it official that it is not considering filing for an adjudication on competence dispute.

This is interpreted as a judgment that doing so would offer no practical benefit.

Observations are also emerging in the political and legal communities 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-su | Graphics by Kang Yoon-jeong)