South Korea’s Chief Justice Rejects Request to Recommend New Supreme Court Candidate
publishers 29articles 35first reported 3 Oct, 09:00 UTCdeveloping since 3 Oct · 27 editions
South Korean Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae said Tuesday that he could not comply with the presidential office’s request to recommend a new candidate for a vacant seat because the request did not provide specific reasons or constitutional grounds.
Speaking during a National Assembly audit of the Supreme Court, Cho reaffirmed his refusal to replace the candidate he had previously recommended. The presidential office asked him in August to submit a new recommendation to President Lee Jae Myung, citing a lack of “procedural completeness” in the original selection.
Cho said the prolonged vacancy was regrettable and pledged to work toward resolving it. He argued that the Constitution assigns distinct roles in appointments: the chief justice recommends Supreme Court justices, the president appoints them, and the National Assembly provides consent. Interference by either the executive or legislature in the recommendation process would be unconstitutional, he said.
Cho also said there was no constitutional requirement for the chief justice to consult the president before recommending a justice, describing past consultations as a voluntary practice.
During the audit, Cho declined to take an oath as a witness, citing separation of powers. The ruling Democratic Party had demanded that he attend as a witness, departing from the custom under which chief justices leave parliamentary audit sessions after making opening remarks.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 6 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 78 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
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- Source articles
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- Given to the writer
- 8, 6 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 78 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
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